Docetaxel administered as three consecutive weekly infusions plus cisplatin for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

Purpose:To study the efficacy and safety of docetaxel administrated weekly plus cisplatin in the treatment for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods:Thirty-six patients with stage ⅢB,stage Ⅳ not treated previously by chemotherapy,or recurrenct after operation NSCLC received intravenous infusions of docetaxel at 35mg/m 2 three consecutive weeks,followed by a week of rest;and intravenous infusions of cisplatin at 75 mg/m 2 every four weeks. Results:There were 12 partial responses for an objective response rate of 33 %. The median survival was 11.5 months (range 4-27 months),and the 1-year survival was 50%. Hematologic toxicities,which were mild,included grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ neutropenia in 22%. The common nonhematologic toxicities included grade 2-3 nausea and vomiting (39%) and grade 2-3 asthenia (36%). Conclusions:Consecutive weekly administrations of docetaxel for 3 weeks plus cisplatin produce minimal myelosuppression and shows activity in the treatment of patients without previous chemtherapy with advanced NSCLC.