A phase II study testing paclitaxel as second-line single agent treatment for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer failing after a first-line chemotherapy

• Published in: Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Netherlands), 2002-07, Vol.37 (1), p.73-77
• Main Authors: Sculier, J.P., Berghmans, T., Lafitte, J.J., Richez, M., Recloux, P., Van Cutsem, O., Ninane, V., Mommen, P., Paesmans, M., Klastersky, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; Chemotherapy; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Female; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Lung Neoplasms - drug therapy; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Non-small cell lung cancer; Paclitaxel; Paclitaxel - pharmacology; Pneumology; Polyneuropathies - chemically induced; Survival; Treatment Outcome; Tumors of the respiratory system and mediastinum
• ISSN: 0169-5002; 1872-8332
• DOI: 10.1016/S0169-5002(02)00037-5

The purpose of this study was to determine the activity of paclitaxel as a second-line chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This multicentric trial included patients who had failed to a first-line chemotherapy with platinum derivatives and/or ifosfamide. After registration, patients were treated by paclitaxel i.v. at a dose of 225 mg/m 2 given over 3 h administered every 3 weeks. Response was assessed after three courses of therapy. Sixty-seven patients were registered, one was ineligible and 64 were assessable for response. Two partial responses were observed (3% of the eligible patients; 95% confidence interval: 0–7%). No change was documented in 16 cases (24%). Tolerance was acceptable, the main toxicity being cumulative polyneuropathy. Median survival duration was 4.5 months with a 1-year rate at 19%. We concluded that paclitaxel is not active in terms of response as second-line chemotherapy for NSCLC.