Seminars in oncology
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Seminars in oncology · Aug 1997
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialDocetaxel (Taxotere) and gemcitabine in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer: preliminary results.
A phase II study was performed to investigate the tolerance and efficacy of the combination of docetaxel (Taxotere; Rhône-Poulenc Rorer, Antony, France) and gemcitabine in chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To date, 24 patients (five with stage IIIB and 19 with stage IV NSCLC) have been treated according to the protocol: gemcitabine 900 mg/m2 was administered on days 1 and 8 as a 30-minute infusion and docetaxel 100 mg/m2 was administered on day 8 as a 1-hour infusion after appropriate premedication. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor 150 microg/m2 subcutaneously was given on days 9 to 15. ⋯ The median delivered dose was 600 mg/m2/wk and 33 mg/m2/wk for gemcitabine and docetaxel, respectively. These preliminary data suggest that the docetaxel/gemcitabine combination has significant antitumor activity and is well tolerated in chemotherapy-naive patients with NSCLC. The study is ongoing.
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Seminars in oncology · Aug 1997
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe role of docetaxel (Taxotere) as a single agent or in combination before local treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.
Neoadjuvant therapy in the treatment of stage IIIa/b non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has the potential to reduce tumor size in patients whose tumors were previously inoperable. This report describes the design and status of an ongoing randomized, phase III study of docetaxel (Taxotere; Rhône-Poulenc Rorer, Antony, France) as neoadjuvant treatment in patients with stage IIIa/b NSCLC, as well as of two phase II studies of combination neoadjuvant therapies. A phase III, multicenter, international, randomized trial is in progress which compares docetaxel with no neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with histologically confirmed, previously untreated NSCLC with stage IIIa N2(T0-3) or T3 (N0-1) disease or stage IIIb disease that can be treated radically. ⋯ The primary objective of the study is to determine the response rate after chemotherapy. The results of both studies should be available by late 1997. The ultimate hope is that there is potential for neoadjuvant chemotherapy to provide a significant benefit for patients with advanced NSCLC.
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Seminars in oncology · Aug 1997
Clinical TrialPreliminary results of a phase II study of paclitaxel and cisplatin in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
Paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) and cisplatin are cytotoxic drugs active against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that possess additive cytotoxicity in animal tumors. Paclitaxel and cisplatin are active in patients with advanced NSCLC when given on a 3-weekly schedule. In an attempt to increase activity, we designed a phase II study with a biweekly schedule. ⋯ Median response duration was 31 weeks (range, 9 to 85 weeks). The biweekly schedule of paclitaxel plus cisplatin has noteworthy activity in patients with NSCLC. A relatively large fraction of patients required either dose reduction and/or treatment delay, but World Health Organization grade 3 or 4 toxicity was rare, apart from the neutropenia that caused only a few septicemic episodes.
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Seminars in oncology · Aug 1997
Clinical TrialPaclitaxel/carboplatin plus ifosfamide in non-small cell lung cancer.
Chemotherapy has a positive role in managing patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. Randomized studies and meta-analyses comparing chemotherapy with best supportive care have confirmed a significant prolongation of survival for chemotherapy-treated patients. In recent years, several new active agents have been identified. ⋯ Although the three-drug regimens used in the 1980s appeared to be no more active than two-drug combinations, the advent of additional active compounds with novel mechanisms of action allows this question to be readdressed. Based on this background, we have initiated a phase I/II study of carboplatin and paclitaxel with escalating doses of ifosfamide. The study design and dosing schedule are discussed in this report.
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Seminars in oncology · Aug 1997
Clinical TrialSeven-week continuous-infusion paclitaxel plus concurrent radiation therapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a phase I study.
The goal of this National Cancer Institute-sponsored phase I trial is to determine the feasibility, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics of continuous-infusion (24 hr/d, 7 d/wk, 7 weeks total) intravenous paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) when combined with standard, curative-intent radiation therapy (RT) for previously untreated, locally advanced non-small cell lung cancers. Eligible patients have locally advanced (T4NXM0 or TXN2-3M0) non-small cell cancer ineligible for potentially curative surgical resection, a good performance status, adequate hematologic, hepatic, and renal functions, and no distant metastases. All patients receive a total tumor dose of 64.8 Gy megavoltage RT in 7 weeks at 1.8 Gy once daily, 5 d/wk. ⋯ A slowly progressive normocytic anemia with no renal dysfunction was found to be associated with an acquired hypoerythropoietin state. These findings indicate that this therapy is feasible and well tolerated through current dose levels, with no dose-limiting toxicity. Dose escalation is ongoing.