Phase II trial of biweekly chemotherapy with docetaxel and cisplatin in high-risk patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: We investigated the efficacy and toxicity of a biweekly schedule of docetaxel and cisplatin in high-risk patients with unresectable (stages IIIB-IV) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: In this study, 48 high-risk patients with previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC were treated with combination chemotherapy consisting of docetaxel 40 mg/m(2) and cisplatin 40 mg/m(2); both drugs were given biweekly, on days 1 and 15, every 4 weeks in an outpatient setting. RESULTS: Complete response, partial response, and stable disease were observed in 1 (2.1%), 30 [62.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 47.9-77.1], and 4 (8.3%) patients. The median overall survival was 15.1 months (95% CI 11.7-18.5) and the median time to progression was 7.5 months (95% CI 6.4-8.6). The major toxicity was grade 3 anemia in 7 (14.6%) patients. Grade 3/4 neutropenia was observed in 5 (10.4%) patients. Among the nonhematologic toxicities, grade 3 infection and grade 3 diarrhea were observed in 5 (10.4%) and 4 (8.3%) patients, respectively. No treatment-related mortality was found. CONCLUSIONS: As a front-line chemotherapy for high-risk patients with unresectable NSCLC in an outpatient setting, the biweekly schedule of docetaxel and cisplatin showed feasible efficacy with acceptable hematologic toxicities, comparable to the results of previous studies of triweekly or weekly schedules. Additional large randomized studies are needed to optimize the schedule and dosage of combination therapy with docetaxel and cisplatin in high-risk patients with unresectable NSCLC.

Combination chemotherapy with irinotecan and cisplatin in elderly patients (>or= 65 years) with extensive-disease small-cell lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Combination chemotherapy with irinotecan and cisplatin is one of the standard treatments for patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). In elderly patients, however, its efficacy and toxicity has not been well documented. In this Phase II study, we assessed the efficacy and toxicity of combination chemotherapy with irinotecan and cisplatin and examined whether advanced age compromises it in elderly patients with previously untreated extensive-disease small-cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC). METHODS: In this study, 46 previously untreated elderly patients (65 years or older) with ED-SCLC were given combination chemotherapy consisting of irinotecan 60 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8 and 15 and cisplatin 60 mg/m(2) on day 1. The treatment was repeated every 4 weeks until patients completed the maximum six cycles. RESULTS: Patients consisted of 37 men and 9 women, whose median age was 70 years (range 65-81 years). A complete response and a partial response were observed in 19.6% (9/46) and 56.5% (26/46), respectively. The overall response rate was 76.1% (95% C.I; 63.8-88.4%). The overall median survival was 10.4 months (range 7.6-13.2 months). The median progression-free survival was 8.32 months (range 6.8-9.8 months). Major toxicities included neutropenia (grade 3-4, 58.7%), leukopenia (grade 3-4, 49.9%), infection (grade 3-4, 39.1%) and diarrhea (grade 3-4, 30.4%). Incidence of febrile neutropenia was significantly higher in patients with ECOG performance status 2-3 compared with ECOG performance status 0-1 (70.4% vs. 5.2%; p<0.001). There were two treatment related deaths in patients ECOG performance status 3. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that combination chemotherapy with irinotecan and cisplatin is an effective treatment for elderly patients with ED-SCLC who have good ECOG performance status and physicians should be aware of the mortality and morbidity due to myelosuppression following this treatment in elderly ED-SCLC patients with poor ECOG performance status.

Clinical Significance of ABCG2 Haplotype-tagging Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Patients With Unresectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated With First-line Platinum-based Chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) ABCG2, involved in multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells, plays an integral role in drug resistance. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified in many MDR-associated ABC genes that seem to influence drug sensitivity/resistance through various mechanisms. Therefore, we investigated whether ABCG2 haplotype-tagging SNPs (htSNPs) were associated with clinical outcomes in patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with front-line platinum-based chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We genotyped 4 ABCG2 htSNPs for 129 unresectable NSCLC cases treated with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and predictive value of the htSNPs in patient response, survival, and adverse events related to platinum-based chemotherapy were analyzed according to each ABCG2 htSNP using the χ test, Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: The rs2725264 was significantly related to overall survival (OS) (P=0.018, log-rank test). The median survival duration (in months) for patients with the rs2725264 T/T, T/C, and C/C genotypes was 35.75 (95% confidence interval [CI], 24.25-47.25), 34.25 (hazard ratio [HR] 1.27 [0.68 to 2.35]; 95% CI, 27.16-41.34), and 14.89 (HR 3.22 [1.26 to 8.24], 95% CI, 13.86-15.92), respectively. The rs2725264 was identified as an independent factor by Cox proportional hazard model analysis (P=0.028). In the taxane-based groups, OS was associated with rs2725264 (P=0.041), whereas in the gemcitabine-based groups, OS was associated with rs4148149 (P=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest ABCG2 htSNPs rs2725264 (overall group and taxane-platinum combination group) and rs4148149 (gemcitabine-platinum combination group) were associated with OS in unresectable NSCLC patients treated with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Thus, the ABCG2 htSNP rs2725264 may be independently associated with OS in unresectable NSCLC patients treated with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.

Clinical significance of ERCC2 haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms in patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer treated with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: First-line platinum-based chemotherapy is currently considered the standard treatment for unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy results in poor prognoses. The DNA repair pathway is a crucial molecular mechanism potentially involved in resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy. ERCC2 plays an integral role in the nucleotide excision repair pathway. Furthermore, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes in the ERCC2 gene are thought to be associated with the risk of developing lung cancer and clinical outcomes. Therefore, we evaluated the impact of ERCC2 haplotype-tagging SNPs (htSNPs) on the clinical parameters of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy in unresectable NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We genotyped 8 ERCC2 htSNPs for 129 unresectable NSCLC (stage IIIA, 12; stage III, 36; stage IV, 82) cases treated with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, hematological and non-hematological toxicities, and predictive value of the htSNPs in patient response, survival, and adverse events related to platinum-based chemotherapy were analyzed according to each ERCC2 htSNP using the chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: No differences were observed in patient or disease characteristics and response according to ERCC2 htSNPs. In a survival analysis, rs50872 was significantly related to overall survival (OS) (log-rank test, p=0.014). The median survival duration of rs50872 G/G, A/G, and A/A genotypes was 35.75 (95% confidence interval [CI] 21.05-50.45), 36.07 (hazard ratio [HR] 1.02, 95% CI 25.20-46.94), and 16.75 (HR 3.49, 95% CI 5.73-27.77) months, respectively. A significant association was observed between grades 3 and 4 infections and poor survival: OS in patients with a grade 0-2 infection: 35.75 months (95% CI 28.15-43.35); OS in patients with a grade 3-4 infection: 12.86 months (95% CI 8.99-16.72, HR 3.57) (log-rank test, p<0.001). In a subgroup analysis based on taxane-platinum vs. gemcitabine-platinum doublets, the rs238405 genotype was significantly related to OS in the taxane-platinum doublets group. However, the rs238416 genotype was significantly associated with OS in the gemcitabine-based group. CONCLUSIONS: ERCC2 htSNPs rs50872 (overall), rs238405 (taxane-platinum doublets group), and rs238416 (gemcitabine-platinum doublets group) and infection related to first-line chemotherapy were associated with OS in unresectable NSCLC patients treated with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. However, additional large prospective studies focusing on the role of ERCC2 htSNPs in unresectable NSCLC are needed.

Phase II study of a biweekly schedule of docetaxel and cisplatin in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: We investigated the efficacy and toxicity of a biweekly schedule of docetaxel and cisplatin in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: In this study, 48 patients with previously untreated metastatic NSCLC were given combination chemotherapy consisting of docetaxel 40 mg/m(2) and cisplatin 40 mg/m(2); both drugs were given biweekly, on days 1 and 15, every 4 weeks. RESULTS: A partial response and stable disease were observed in 25 patients (52.1%, 95% CI: 38.7-66.9%) and ten patients (20.8%), respectively. The overall median survival was 14.0 months (95% CI: 7.10-20.9 months). There was no treatment-related mortality. The major toxicity was grade 2 asthenia (35.4%). Grade 4 neutropenia was observed in two patients (4.2%), as was grade 3 infection (4.2%). CONCLUSIONS: As a front-line chemotherapy in an outpatient setting for patients with metastatic NSCLC, the biweekly schedule of docetaxel and cisplatin showed effective antitumor activity with a marked reduction in hematologic toxicity, comparable to the results of previous studies using 3-week or weekly schedules. Further randomized studies are needed before this can be accepted as a standard schedule.

Fixed-dose rate infusion of gemcitabine and weekly cisplatin in elderly or poor performance status patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: We investigated the efficacy and toxicity of a 4-week schedule of a fixed dose rate infusion of gemcitabine and weekly cisplatin in elderly or poor performance status patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: In this study, 48 patients with previously untreated NSCLC were given combination chemotherapy that consisted of gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) (10 mg/m(2)/min fixed dose rate infusion) and cisplatin 25 mg/m(2), and both drugs were given weekly on days 1, 8 and 15. RESULTS: A partial response and stable disease were observed in 20 patients (41.7%, 95% CI; 27.8-55.6%) and 12 patients (25.0%), respectively. The overall median survival was 10.30 months (range: 7.85-12.74 months). Major toxicities included neutropenia (grade 3 to 4, 29.2%) and infection (grade 3 to 4, 27.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that this regimen is a feasible treatment for elderly or poor performance status patients with unresectable NSCLC. Nevertheless, the morbidity due to myelosuppression and infection following this treatment should be carefully considered.

A phase II trial of docetaxel and ifosfamide for patients with platinum-resistant or refractory non-small cell lung cancer in a salvage setting.

PURPOSE: We conducted a phase II study of docetaxel and ifosfamide chemotherapy for patients with platinum-resistant or refractory non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to evaluate the response and toxicity profiles as a salvage treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July 2000 and July 2004, 40 patients who had previously received platinum-based regimen as the first-line or second-line therapy were enrolled in this study. The treatment consisted of a docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) intravenous infusion on day 1 and intravenous ifosfamide 3 g/m(2) with Mesna uroprotectione on day 1 through 3. This regimen was repeated every 3 weeks. RESULTS: One hundred thirty cycles of treatment were given, with a median of 3 cycles (range: 2 approximately 6 cycles). All the patients were evaluable for the response rate and toxicity profile. The major toxicity was myelosuppression. Grade 3 approximately 4 neutropenia occurred in 30 patients (75%) during treatment. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 16 patients (40%). Five of 40 patients (12.5%) had a partial response (95% confidence interval, 3.3 approximately 21.7%). The median time to disease progression was 2.65 months (range: 2.02 approximately 3.20 months), and the median survival was 5.24 months (range: 2.99 approximately 7.49 months). CONCLUSION: Salvage chemotherapy with docetaxel and ifosfamide showed a low efficacy and a high proportion of severe neutropenia in patients with platinum-resistant or refractory advanced NSCLC.