Background: A phase II study was conducted in order to determine the toxicity and efficacy of the combination of CPT-11 and cisplatin, as salvage treatment in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), progressing after a docetaxel-based front-line regimen.
Patients and methods: Thirty-one patients (median age 61 years) with NSCLC, were enrolled. Twenty-six (84%) patients were male, twenty-five (81%) had disease stage IV, and twenty-eight (90%) had a performance status (WHO) 0-1. CPT-11 was administered as a 60-minute i.v. infusion at the dose of 100 mg/m2 on day 1 and 110 mg/m2 on day 8; cisplatin was administered at the dose of 80 mg/m2 on day 8, after CPT-11 administration. Treatment was repeated every three weeks.
Results: A total of 110 chemotherapy cycles were administered. In an intention-to-treat analysis 7 patients (23%; 95%) Introduction confidence interval (95% CI): 8%-37%) achieved a partial response, 6 (19%) had stable disease, and 18 (58%) progressive disease. Three of responders had failed a previous docetaxel-carboplatin combination. The median duration of response was 3 months, the median TTP 8 months and the median survival for the entire group 8 months. Grade 3-4 neutropenia was observed in 16 (52%) patients and in two cases this was febrile. Grade 3 and 4 thrombocytopenia occurred in two (7%) patients, respectively. Grade 3 and 4 diarrhea was seen in 10 (33%) patients, grade 2-3 neurotoxicity in 2 (6%), and fatigue grade 2-3 in 12 (39%). Other toxicities were mild.
Conclusions: The combination of CPT-11 and cisplatin has manageable toxicity and interesting activity as salvage treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC, previously treated with a docetaxel-based front-line regimen.