[Combination chemotherapy with carboplatin and docetaxel for elderly patients with non-small-cell lung cancer]

Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai Zasshi. 2008 Jul;46(7):516-21.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

The efficacy and toxicity of treatment with carboplatin (AUC= 5)+ docetaxel (70mg/m2) were analyzed retrospectively in 27 elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) aged 70 years or more. The median age of the patients was 74 years (range, 70-83 years). The performance status (ECOG), clinical stage, and tumor histology in the patients were as follows: PS: PS 0, 12 patients; PS 1, 11 patients; PS 2, 4 patients; disease stage: stage IIIA, 5 patients; stage IIIB, 11 patients; stage IV, 11 patients; tumor histology: adenocarcinoma, 18 patients; squamous cell carcinoma, 9 patients. The median number of treatment cycles administered was 4. The median survival time was 11.1 months and the 1-year survival rate was 40.7%. The response rate was 33.3%. The major toxicities were leukopenia and neutropenia; grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in 22 patients (81.5%). Nonhematologic toxicities were generally mild, including grade 3 anorexia in 13 patients (48.1%) and grade 3 febrile neutropenia in 9 patients (33.3%). No treatment-related deaths were observed. Thus, it was concluded that the combination of carboplatin + docetaxel is a feasible, well-tolerated, and effective regimen for fit elderly patients with NSCLC. Prospective studies comparing carboplatin + docetaxel with third-generation single-agent chemotherapy or non-platinum-based combination chemotherapy are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of this drug combination.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Carboplatin / administration & dosage*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy
  • Docetaxel
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Taxoids / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Taxoids
  • Docetaxel
  • Carboplatin