Phase II study of docetaxel and carboplatin as second-line treatment in NSCLC

Aim of this study was to evaluate activity and toxicity of docetaxel and carboplatin as second-tine treatment in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who failed or relapsed after previous chemotherapy. Patients had to have unresectable stage IIIb or IV NSCLC, previous chemotherapy, a performance status less than or equal to2, a normal bone marrow reserve, and an adequate renal and liver function. Treatment consisted of docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) and carboplatin AUC 6 mg/ml min administered every 3 weeks for a maximum of 5 cycles. Fifty-seven patients with a median age of 57 years were included. Prior treatment consisted of gemcitabine atone (n = 2) or gemcitabine in combination with cisplatin (n = 26) or epirubicin (n = 29). Median number of cycles for carboplatin and docetaxel was 4. Granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia common toxicity criteria (CTC) grades 3 and 4 occurred in 79 and 30% of patients, respectively. Febrile neutropenia, occurred in eight patients (14%), of whom two patients died. Fatigue grades 2 and 3 occurred in 42% of patients. Other non-haematotogical toxicity was mild. Tumour response rate was 37%, irrespective of the previous regimen. Median survival was 31 weeks, 1-year survival was 32%. In conclusion, the combination of docetaxel and carboplatin is active as second-tine treatment in platinum and non-platinum pre-treated patients. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.