Docetaxel and irinotecan as first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: A pilot study

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancerrelated death worldwide with an estimated 900 000 new cases diagnosed each year in men and 330 000 in women [1]. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents about 75% of all lung cancer cases [2]. Historically, NSCLC has been considered a chemotherapy-resistant disease and the use of chemotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC was controversial until recently [3]. Four meta-analyses of chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC have now shown an absolute survival benefit, with a modest improvement in median survival, compared with best supportive care alone [4-7]. Cisplatin-based therapy is the most widely used chemotherapy regimen and is currently recommended to prolong survival, prevent or reduce tumor-related symptoms, and maintain the quality of life for patients with Abou-Mourad Y, Otrock ZK, Makarem JA, Kattan JG, Farhat FS, Jalloul R, Mokaddem WT, Ghosen MG, Taher AT, Chehal AA, Shamseddine AI. Docetaxel and irinotecan as first-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer : A pilot study. J Med Liban 2008 ; 56 (1) : 16-21. Abou-Mourad Y, Otrock ZK, Makarem JA, Kattan JG, Farhat FS, Jalloul R, Mokaddem WT, Ghosen MG, Taher AT, Chahal AA, Shamseddine AI. Docetaxel et irinotecan comme chimiotherapie de premiere ligne dans les cancers avances pulmonaires non a petites cellules : Etude pilote. J Med Liban 2008 ; 56 (1) : 16-21.