Predictors of long-term survival in patients with lung cancer included in the randomized Spanish Lung Cancer Group 0008 phase II trial using concomitant chemoradiation with docetaxel and carboplatin plus induction or consolidation chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze prognostic variables associated with long-term survival in patients with stage III non-small-cell lung cancer enrolled in a Spanish Lung Cancer Group (SLCG) phase II trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between May 2001 and June 2006, 139 patients were enrolled. The initial design included 3 arms: sequential chemotherapy (CT) followed by standard thoracic radiation therapy (TRT; RT), concomitant CT/TRT followed by consolidation CT, or induction CT followed by CT/TRT. Based on the results of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 9410 trial, the sequential arm was closed. Induction or consolidation therapy comprised docetaxel plus gemcitabine. Concomitant treatment comprised docetaxel plus carboplatin plus 60 Gy TRT. A univariate and a Cox proportional hazard regression analysis of the following 11 variables were performed: age, sex, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS), histology, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, disease stage, nodal status, hemoglobin level, completion of RT treatment, completion of induction or consolidation plus concomitant treatment, and RT delay. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 23 months for living patients, median survival was 13.07 months for the consolidation arm and 14.65 months for the induction arm. The 4-year survival rates were 25.37% and 32.35%, respectively. Only RT treatment completion (P < .0001) and induction or consolidation plus concomitant treatment completion (P < .0001) were associated with longer survival. CONCLUSION: Based on this retrospective analysis of patients enrolled in the SLCG 0008 randomized phase II study, age, sex, PS, and clinical parameters are not good predictors of overall survival; however, completion of treatment is needed to achieve long-term results.

Atrial flutter and myocardial infarction-like ECG changes as manifestations of left ventricle involvement from lung carcinoma.

Lung cancer involvement of the heart is not unusual, but in most cases is silent. Arrhythmia and electrocardiographic findings suggesting an acute myocardial infarction could be the first manifestation of myocardial infiltration by the tumour. Echocardiography could be a valuable tool to define the diagnosis in patients with lung cancer and newly diagnosed arrhythmia or ST-T wave alterations. When echocardiographics findings are not conclusive, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows differentiation between tumour and myocardium.

14-3-3sigma methylation in pretreatment serum circulating DNA of cisplatin-plus-gemcitabine-treated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients predicts survival: The Spanish Lung Cancer Group.

PURPOSE: Survival in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are treated with platinum-based chemotherapy is rather variable. Methylation-dependent transcriptional silencing of 14-3-3sigma, a major G2-M checkpoint control gene, could be a predictor of longer survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A sensitive methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction assay was used to evaluate 14-3-3sigma methylation status in pretreatment serum DNA obtained from 115 cisplatin-plus-gemcitabine-treated advanced NSCLC patients. RESULTS: 14-3-3sigma methylation was observed in all histologic types of 39 patients (34%). After a median follow-up of 9.8 months, median survival was significantly longer in the methylation-positive group (15.1 v 9.8 months; P = .004). Median time to progression was 8 months in the methylation-positive group and 6.3 months in the methylation-negative group (log-rank test, P = .027). A multivariate Cox regression model identified only 14-3-3sigma methylation status and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status as independent prognostic factors for survival. In an exploratory analysis, median survival for 22 methylation-positive responders has not been reached, whereas survival was 11.3 months for 29 methylation-negative responders (P = .001). CONCLUSION Methylation of 14-3-3sigma is a new independent prognostic factor for survival in NSCLC patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy. It can be reliably and conveniently detected in the serum, thus obviating the need for tumor tissue analysis.

Methylation patterns and chemosensitivity in NSCLC.

Survival in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy is rather variable. Methylation-dependent transcriptional silencing of 14-3-3sigma, a major G2/M checkpoint control gene, could be a predictor of longer survival. A sensitive methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction assay was used to evaluate 14-3-3sigma methylation status in pretreatment serum DNA obtained from 115 cisplatin-plus-gemcitabine-treated advanced NSCLC patients. 14-3-3sigma methylation was observed in all histologic types in 39 patients (34%). After a median follow-up of 9.8 months, median survival was significantly longer in the methylation-positive group (15.1 vs 9.8 months; P = 0.004). Median time to progression was 8 months in the methylation-positive group, and 6.3 months in the methylation-negative group (P = 0.027 by the log-rank test). A multivariate Cox regression model identified only 14-3-3sigma methylation status and ECOG performance status (PS) as independent prognostic factors for survival. In an exploratory analysis, median survival for 22 methylation-positive responders has not been reached, while it was 11.3 months for 29 methylation-negative responders (P = 0.001). Methylation of 14-3-3sigma is a new independent prognostic factor for survival in NSCLC patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy. It can be reliably and conveniently detected in the serum, thus obviating the need for tumor tissue analysis.

Low ERCC1 expression correlates with prolonged survival after cisplatin plus gemcitabine chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Overexpression of the excision repair cross-complementing 1 (ERCC1) gene, which is crucial in the repair of cisplatin (CDDP)-DNA adducts, is reported to negatively influence the effectiveness of CDDP-based therapy for gastric and ovarian cancers. Recent evidence indicates that Gemcitabine (Gem) may modulate ERCC1 nucleotide excision repair activity, and down-regulation of DNA repair activity by ERCC1 antisense RNA reportedly inhibits synergism of CDDP/Gem. We investigated whether ERCC1 mRNA expression levels were associated with clinical outcomes after treatment with a combination Gem/CDDP regimen for patients with advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Response and survival were correlated with the level of ERCC1 expression in 56 patients with advanced (stage IIIb or IV) NSCLC treated as part of a multicenter randomized trial with Gem 1250 mg/m(2) days 1 and 8 plus CDDP 100 mg/m(2) on day 1 every 3 weeks. mRNA was isolated from paraffin-embedded pretreatment primary tumor specimens, and relative expression levels of ERCC1/beta-actin were measured using a quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (Taqman) system. RESULTS: ERCC1 expression was detectable in all tumors. There were no significant differences in ERCC1 levels by gender, age, performance status, weight loss, or tumor stage. The overall response rate was 44.7%. There were no significant associations between ERCC1 expression and response. Median overall survival was significantly longer in patients with low ERCC1 expression tumors (61.6 weeks; 95% confidence interval, 42.4-80.7 weeks) compared to patients with high expression tumors (20.4 weeks, 95% confidence interval, 6.9-33.9 weeks). ERCC1 expression, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, and presence of weight loss were significant prognostic factors for survival in a Cox proportional hazards multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that ERCC1 expression is a predictive factor for survival after CDDP/Gem therapy in advanced NSCLC. Although there was a trend toward decreased response with high ERCC1 mRNA levels, this difference failed to reach statistical significance. This result may reflect the impact of Gem and the requirement for ERCC1 expression for CDDP/Gem synergism or may be attributable to the relatively small patient sample size in this study. Prospective studies of ERCC1 as a predictive marker for activity of CDDP-based regimens in NSCLC are warranted.

Weekly paclitaxel in the treatment of metastatic and/or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer.

Weekly paclitaxel was initially used to exploit the radiosensitizing properties of the drug. However, the observed improvement in therapeutic index with this regimen encouraged further use of weekly regimens, with and without radiotherapy, as a single-agent or in combination with other regimens. Single-agent weekly paclitaxel, at doses ranging from 50 to 200 mg/m(2)/week, has been associated with response rates of 23-56% with acceptable toxicity. Weekly paclitaxel has also been combined with carboplatin and vinorelbine in two-drug combinations and with cisplatin plus gemcitabine and cisplatin plus vinorelbine in three-drug regimens. Response rates with weekly paclitaxel in combination chemotherapy have ranged from 16 to 71%. Paclitaxel is particularly suited to combined modality therapy with radiation in non-small cell lung cancer, because of its modest toxicity profile, significant antineoplastic activity, ease of administration and potential for radiosensitization. Studies of weekly paclitaxel given together with radiotherapy, with or without carboplatin, have produced response rates of 71-86% with median survival durations of 17-20.5 months.

Determinants of response and resistance to cytotoxics.

There is an underlying feeling in the oncology community that chemotherapy has reached a therapeutic "glass ceiling" in non-small cell lung cancer, and that we will never attain the acceptable survival rates that are just beyond our reach. Multiple clinical trials have tested doublets, triplets, and sequential chemotherapy in what is often regarded as a futile attempt to break through this ceiling. Recent large randomized trials have not shown that any of these combinations is superior to any of the others. Nevertheless, the analysis of DNA and RNA from patients' serum can permit us to assess genes that may be specific targets of certain cytotoxic agents and others that may be markers of multidrug resistance. With this information, we will hopefully be able to create guidelines for individualized chemotherapy. With this in mind, the Spanish Lung Cancer Group has designed a trial to test the involvement of various genes in resistance to gemcitabine and cisplatin. With the gene corral that will emerge from this trial, we will create an up-front diagnostic test for selecting the most appropriate gemcitabine plus cisplatin regimen for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

Targeted therapy in combination with gemcitabine in non-small cell lung cancer.

Gemcitabine (Gemzar; Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN) and cisplatin are commonly used in the treatment of many solid tumors, although the impact of chemotherapy is limited in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. However, in clinical practice, there is a minority of patients who can attain long-term survival. Upregulation of mRNA transcripts has been linked to chemoresistance, and in some instances, mRNA expression has been correlated with polymorphisms. Cisplatin resistance is directly linked to the nucleotide excision repair system, specifically to the transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair pathway that involves genes that are deficient in rare inborn disorders such as Cockayne syndrome and xeroderma pigmentosum. Overexpression of ERCC1 correlates with poor survival in gemcitabine/cisplatin-treated non-small cell lung cancer patients. At the preclinical level, ERCC1 and XPD mRNA expression correlate with each other, and overexpression of XPD causes selective cisplatin resistance in human tumor cell lines. XPD polymorphisms have been associated with lower DNA repair capacity. In our experience, time to progression is significantly higher in gemcitabine/cisplatin-treated patients with the Lys751Gln genotype (9.6 months) than in those with the Lys751Lys genotype (4.2 months; P =.03). Other polymorphisms involved in parallel DNA repair systems may well provide the same information, indicating a high degree of biologic redundancy. The overexpression of the subunit M1 of ribonucleotide reductase (RRM1) has been linked to gemcitabine resistance in our retrospective assessment. Preliminary findings that a subset of gemcitabine/cisplatin-treated patients with low ERCC1 and RRM1 mRNA levels show a significantly longer survival and highlight the possibilities of individually tailored chemotherapy.

Genetic testing for chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.

Cisplatin or carboplatin is commonly used with gemcitabine, docetaxel, paclitaxel, or vinorelbine as chemotherapy doublets in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Several randomized trials have failed to identify major differences in survival between any of these doublets. This lack of evidence for improvement in survival with any chemotherapy regimen has created a tabula rasa where no more large randomized trials should be conducted without including a genetic analysis. Patients see survival as their major concern, and other considerations, such as cost and quality of life, are relegated to lower positions. Genetic alterations related to the transcription-coupled repair pathway of the nucleotide excision repair system (TC-NER) have revealed the subset of patients who are resistant to cisplatin. TC-NER involves genes that are deficient in rare inborn disorders such as Cockayne syndrome and xeroderma pigmentosum. For a long time, ERCC1 mRNA levels have been known to correlate with DNA repair capacity in various tissues. Levels of DNA cisplatin adducts in peripheral blood and buccal mucosa cells predict chemotherapy response, and high ERCC1 mRNA levels have been related to chemoresistance in ovarian cancer and in malignant lymphocytes from chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Moreover, in some instances, mRNA expression has been correlated with polymorphisms. Overexpression of ERCC1 correlates with poor survival in gemcitabine/cisplatin-treated NSCLC patients. An ongoing customized ERCC1-based chemotherapy trial has been designed based on this knowledge. Patients are randomized to the control arm of cisplatin/docetaxel or to the experimental arm, where docetaxel is combined with cisplatin or gemcitabine according to ERCC1 levels. To date, 86 patients have been included.

Effect of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism on patients with cisplatin/gemcitabine-treated stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the metabolic pathways of S-adenosylmethionine have been related to global hypomethylation and a lower number of hypermethylated CpG islands of tumor suppressor genes. Hypermethylation of checkpoint and DNA repair genes has been shown to be indicative of chemosensitivity. In the present study, we have examined the SNP of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T, which affects DNA methylation patterns and is linked to elevated plasma homocysteine levels in 208 patients with gemcitabine/cisplatin-treated stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). No differences in response rate were observed according to the MTHFR genotype. However, time to progression was 7.4 months for 68 patients with CC genotype, 5.5 months for 108 patients with heterozygous CT genotype, and 5.2 months for 28 patients with TT genotype. These findings can lead us to distinguish different outcome patterns among patients with stage IV NSCLC whose similar clinical prognostic factors would otherwise indicate similar outcomes. Carriers of the MTHFR 677T allele could benefit from supplementation with folic acid and vitamin B12. The Spanish Lung Cancer Group has undertaken a phase III randomized trial to elucidate this concept.

The promise of pharmacogenomics: gemcitabine and pemetrexed.

Although no overall differences in survival have been observed between the many chemotherapy combinations in non-small-cell lung cancer, the clinical application of mRNA expression levels of amplified genes may disclose many genetic influences on cytotoxic drug sensitivity and enable clinicians to tailor chemotherapy according to each individual's gene profile. Specifically, the assessment of ribonucleotide reductase subunit M1 and thymidylate synthase mRNA expression levels might select patients who benefit from gemcitabine (Gemzar) or pemetrexed (Alimta) combinations. Until recently, clinical prognostic factors such as performance status, weight loss, and lactate dehydrogenase were the only parameters used to predict chemotherapy response and survival. However, accumulated data indicate that overexpression of genes involved in cancer glycolysis pathways plays an important role, and might be an independent mechanism of chemoresistance. The dysregulation of glycolytic genes is affected by growth signals involving the PI3K/Akt pathway and downstream genes such as hypoxia-inducible factor-1-alpha. One can thus envision that substantial improvements in therapeutic outcome could benefit from the integration of tailored ribonucleotide reductase-dependent chemotherapy, ribonucleotide reductase antisense therapy, and targeted therapy.

Trabectedin in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with XPG and/or ERCC1 overexpression and BRCA1 underexpression and pretreated with platinum.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies in sarcoma found that a composite gene signature, including high expression of nucleotide excision repair (NER) genes (XPG and/or ERCC1) and low expression of homologous recombination repair (HR) genes (BRCA1), identifies a highly sensitive population of patients with significantly improved outcome to trabectedin. This exploratory phase II trial evaluated a customized trabectedin treatment according to this gene signature in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after the failure of standard platinum-based treatment. METHODS: Patients were selected according to their mRNA expression (elevated XPG and/or ERCC1, with low BRCA1) using the following values as cutoff: XPG=0.99, ERCC1=3.47 and BRCA1=12.00. Trabectedin was administered as a 1.3mg/m(2) 3-hour intravenous infusion every 3 weeks (q3wk). The primary efficacy endpoint was the progression-free survival rate at 3 months. Objective response according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) was a secondary efficacy endpoint. RESULTS: Two of 18 evaluable patients (11.1%; 95% CI, 1.38-34.7%) achieved progression-free survival rate at 3 months. The primary efficacy objective (at least 3 of 18 patients being progression-free at 3 months) was not met, and therefore the trial was early finalized. No objective responses per RECIST were achieved. Four patients had stable disease. Median PFS was 1.3 months, and median overall survival was 5.9 months. Trabectedin was usually well tolerated, with a safety profile similar to that described in patients with other tumor types. CONCLUSIONS: Customized treatment with trabectedin 1.3mg/m(2) 3-h q3wk according to composite gene signature (XPG and/or ERCC1 overexpression, and BRCA1 underexpression) was well tolerated, but had modest activity in NSCLC patients pretreated with platinum. Therefore, further clinical trials with trabectedin as single agent in this indication are not warranted.

Preoperative chemotherapy plus surgery versus surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy versus surgery alone in early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: To address whether preoperative chemotherapy plus surgery or surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy prolongs disease-free survival compared with surgery alone among patients with resectable non-small-cell lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this phase III trial, 624 patients with stage IA (tumor size > 2 cm), IB, II, or T3N1 were randomly assigned to surgery alone (212 patients), three cycles of preoperative paclitaxel-carboplatin followed by surgery (201 patients), or surgery followed by three cycles of adjuvant paclitaxel-carboplatin (211 patients). The primary end point was disease-free survival. RESULTS: In the preoperative arm, 97% of patients started the planned chemotherapy, and radiologic response rate was 53.3%. In the adjuvant arm, 66.2% started the planned chemotherapy. Ninety-four percent of patients underwent surgery; surgical procedures and postoperative mortality were similar across the three arms. Patients in the preoperative arm had a nonsignificant trend toward longer disease-free survival than those assigned to surgery alone (5-year disease-free survival 38.3% v 34.1%; hazard ratio [HR] for progression or death, 0.92; P = .176). Five-year disease-free survival rates were 36.6% in the adjuvant arm versus 34.1% in the surgery arm (HR 0.96; P = .74). CONCLUSION: In early-stage patients, no statistically significant differences in disease-free survival were found with the addition of preoperative or adjuvant chemotherapy to surgery. In this trial, in which the treatment decision was made before surgery, more patients were able to receive preoperative than adjuvant treatment.

Blood-based CHRNA3 single nucleotide polymorphism and outcome in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

Nicotine acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are associated with resistance to gemcitabine, cisplatin and paclitaxel in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CHRNA3, CHRNA5 and LOC123688 increase lung cancer risk. These SNPs may have influenced outcome in patients treated in our phase III trial. Stage IV NSCLC patients were treated with customized chemotherapy based on ERCC1 (excision repair cross-complementing 1) mRNA expression. Patients in the control arm received docetaxel/cisplatin; patients in the genotypic arm with low levels of ERCC1 received docetaxel/cisplatin; patients in the genotypic arm with high levels of ERCC1 received docetaxel/gemcitabine. DNA was extracted from lymphocytes, and CHRNA3 (rs1051730), CHRNA5 (rs16969968) and LOC123688 (rs8034191) SNPs were genotyped with the Taqman allele discrimination assay. A significant interaction was found for CHRNA3 and PS (P=0.02). In patients with PS 0, CT patients had a better response than both CC (P=0.01) and TT (P=0.02) patients, and patients in the low genotypic group also had a better response (P=0.01). When the CHRNA3 genotype was added in the multivariate analysis for progression-free survival, an improvement was observed in the low genotypic group in PS 0 patients (P=0.02). PS 0 patients in the low genotypic group with the CT genotype attained an 84% response rate, 12.1-month progression-free survival, and 19-month median survival. CHRNA3 (rs1051730) genotyping can improve customized chemotherapy based on tumor assessment of ERCC1 mRNA in stage IV NSCLC with PS 0.

Lung cancer and treatment in elderly patients: the Achilles Study.

BACKGROUND: The number of elderly patients with cancer continues to increase. Approximately two-thirds of patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer are 65 years, and nearly 50% are 70 years or older. The aim of our study was to discern whether clinical characteristics, toxicity, response rate, treatment and survival are different in patients enrolees 70 years of age and older with those in younger patients. METHODS: We reviewed the database of six clinical trials with different doublet combinations in the Spanish Lung Cancer Group from 1998 to 2005. Patient's characteristics, stage, histology, response and survival were obtained. RESULTS: All 1653 patients were studied; 280 patients (17%) were over 70. No significant differences were found between the two groups with respect to gender, stages, response rate or histological type. However, a greater squamous histological tendency was found in the older group. No differences were found in the median number of cycles administered. The only significant differences were in the greater percentage of grade III/IV neutropenia among patients older than 70. Febrile neutropenia was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the oldest age group represented a small percentage of all patients included in clinical and pharmacogenetic trials. Although this might indicate bias when interpreting the results, age is not a contraindication to the treatment of the "fit" elderly. Patients with good performance status can be treated with standard doublets. We believe that special attention should be paid to cases with high risk of neutropenia. Research in this population should now be aimed at finding more selective treatments, based on the genetic differences that older patients have.

Measurement and impact of co-morbidity in elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with chemotherapy. A phase II study of weekly paclitaxel.

BACKGROUND: Aging is associated with an increasing of comorbidity and at the time of lung cancer diagnosis patients present one or more other serious disease. The aim of the study is to evaluate tolerability, response and survival of weekly paclitaxel in elderly patients with advanced NSCLC and concomitant diseases. METHODS: Patients with advanced NSCLC who were poor candidates to platinum-based therapy because of age >65 years and coexistent illnesses received weekly paclitaxel over 1 hour at a dose of 80 mg/m2. Comorbidity was evaluated according to the Charlson scale, Kaplan-Feinstein index and the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale. RESULTS: A total of 57 patients (median age, 74 years; range, 65-84) were included. The overall response rate was 44%. Median survival was 7.8 months. Grade 3-4 toxicity was uncommon: neutropenia 1.8%, thrombocytopenia 1.8%, neuropathy 7%, hypersensitivity reaction 1.8%. Comorbidity indexes were useful to characterize better the population of elderly patients, but did not define a subgroup with worse prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: The low toxicity profile and efficacy of low-dose weekly paclitaxel justified its usage in this group of poor prognosis elderly patients with advanced NSCLC and comorbidities. A comorbidity index should be introduced in prospective oncological studies in the elderly to ensure compatibility.

Customizing cisplatin based on quantitative excision repair cross-complementing 1 mRNA expression: a phase III trial in non-small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Although current treatment options for metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) rely on cisplatin-based chemotherapy, individualized approaches to therapy may improve response or reduce unnecessary toxicity. Excision repair cross-complementing 1 (ERCC1) has been associated with cisplatin resistance. We hypothesized that assigning cisplatin based on pretreatment ERCC1 mRNA levels would improve response. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From August 2001 to October 2005, 444 stage IV NSCLC patients were enrolled. RNA was isolated from pretreatment biopsies, and quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR assays were performed to determine ERCC1 mRNA expression. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:2 ratio to either the control or genotypic arm before ERCC1 assessment. Patients in the control arm received docetaxel plus cisplatin. In the genotypic arm, patients with low ERCC1 levels received docetaxel plus cisplatin, and those with high levels received docetaxel plus gemcitabine. The primary end point was the overall objective response rate. RESULTS: Of 444 patients enrolled, 78 (17.6%) went off study before receiving one cycle of chemotherapy, mainly due to insufficient tumor tissue for ERCC1 mRNA assessment. Of the remaining 346 patients assessable for response, objective response was attained by 53 patients (39.3%) in the control arm and 107 patients (50.7%) in the genotypic arm (P = .02). CONCLUSION: Assessment of ERCC1 mRNA expression in patient tumor tissue is feasible in the clinical setting and predicts response to docetaxel and cisplatin. Additional studies are warranted to optimize methodologies for ERCC1 analysis in small tumor samples and to refine a multibiomarker profile predictive of patient outcome.

Influence of the cyto-protective agent amifostine on the pharmacokinetics of low-dose Paclitaxel.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacokinetic parameters (PHK) of low-dose weekly paclitaxel (PAC) are not well known, particularly when administered with the cytoprotective agent amifostine (AMI). METHODS: Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) received PAC alone or PAC + AMI. Blood samples were drawn at the end of the infusion at 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 h for the measurement of plasma PAC using HPLC. Area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), the peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) and the residence time of paclitaxel in plasma at concentrations >0.1 microM (TPP >or=0.1) and >0.05 microM (TPP >or=0.05) were calculated using a two-compartmental model. ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Pharmacokinetic studies were completed for 43 doses among 11 patients receiving PAC alone and for 26 doses among 8 patients receiving the combination AMI + PAC (from the first to the fifth week). Statistically significant differences in all parameters except AUC were observed between the 2 treatment groups. A significantly higher Cmax was observed for patients receiving PAC + AMI versus PAC alone. Both TPP >or=0.1 and TPP >or=0.05 were also more prolonged in AMI + PAC cycles. CONCLUSION: AMI produces a prolongation in PAC plasma circulation time. Further specifically designed studies are needed to quantify the resultant effects on PAC's efficacy and toxicity.

Low-dose weekly paclitaxel as second-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a phase II study.

PURPOSE: To assess the activity and toxicity of low-dose weekly paclitaxel in patients with non-resectable or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and who had disease recurrence or failure with previous chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty patients with NSCLC previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy received weekly paclitaxel 80 mg/m(2) as a 1 h infusion. The median age was 63 years (range 42-77 years); 25 patients had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS) 1 and 15 had PS 2. Thirty-one patients had stage IV disease and nine stage III (eight stage IIIB and one stage IIIA). RESULTS: A total of 364 weeks of treatment were administered (median 8 weeks, range 2-17 weeks). There were no episodes of grade 3 or 4 haematological toxicities. Severe non-haematological toxicity was uncommon: grade 1-2 asthenia in 50%; grade 1-2 motor neuropathy in 45% and grade 3 in 10%; grade 1-2 sensory neuropathy in 62% of patients. Alopecia was mild. The overall response rate was 37.5% (95% CI, 23.9-55): 2 CR, 13 PR, 15 SD, 8 PD, 2 NE. Median overall survival was 9.7 months (95% CI, 6.5-12.8). Median time to progression was 5.4 months (95% CI, 1.8-8.9). CONCLUSION: A low-dose weekly paclitaxel regimen had good clinical efficacy with low toxicity in this group of patients with poor prognosis. This regimen increases the therapeutic options available for second-line therapy in NSCLC patients.