Efficacy of docetaxel plus carboplatin combination chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer / 中国肺癌杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Chemotherapy is one of the important treatment methods for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of docetaxel combined with carboplatin in treatment of advanced NSCLC.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-four stage IIIB/IV NSCLC patients were treated with docetaxel (75 mg/m² intravenously, on day 1) and carboplatin (AUC=5 intravenously, on day 2).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall response rate (RR) was 42.6%, median survival time (MST) was 14 months, and 1-year survival rate was 45.23%. In initial treatment group, 1-year survial rate was 48.84% and MST was 14 months, and 37.89% and 12 months respectively in retreatment group (P=0.0233). The 1-year survial rate and MST of stage IIIB patients were 44.86% and 15 months, and 39.75% and 12 months respectively in stage IV patients (P=0.0354). There was no significant difference in efficacy between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma patients. The major adverse effects were granulopenia, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and alopecia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The combination of docetaxel and carboplatin has a high response rate and tolerable side effects in treatment of advanced NSCLC, which can be adopted as both the first-line and second-line treatment.</p>