Paclitaxel and Docetaxel Combinations in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

• Published in: Chest Vol. 117; no. 4; pp. 144S - 151S
• Main Author: Belani, Chandra P.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Northbrook, IL Elsevier Inc 01.04.2000; American College of Chest Physicians
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; carboplatin; Carboplatin - administration & dosage; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - drug therapy; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - mortality; cisplatin; Cisplatin - administration & dosage; Docetaxel; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - drug therapy; Lung Neoplasms - mortality; Medical sciences; non-small cell lung cancer; paclitaxel; Paclitaxel - administration & dosage; Paclitaxel - analogs & derivatives; Pneumology; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; taxanes; Taxoids; Tumors of the respiratory system and mediastinum; non-small cell lung cancer; paclitaxel; NSCLC; docetaxel; carboplatin; ECOG; taxanes; cisplatin; AUC; Antineoplastic agent; Human; Lung disease; Evaluation; Respiratory disease; Indication; Treatment efficiency; Docetaxel; Malignant tumor; Bronchopulmonary; Chemotherapy; Taxane derivatives; Paclitaxel; Bronchus disease; Therapeutic protocol; Non small cell carcinoma
• ISSN: 0012-3692; 1931-3543
• DOI: 10.1378/chest.117.4_suppl_1.144S

Paclitaxel, the first of the taxanes, has exhibited unique andencouraging single-agent activity in the treatment of non-small celllung cancer (NSCLC). Yet, with single-agent response rates approaching25%, it was logical to examine the impact of paclitaxel in combinationchemotherapy regimens. In trials evaluating the activity of paclitaxelin combination with one of the platinum compounds, cisplatin orcarboplatin, response rates have ranged from 35 to > 50% and weresignificantly better than response rates observed withetoposide/cisplatin, the previous standard regimen for treatment of NSCLC. Docetaxel is a newer taxane that also has exhibited notablesingle-agent activity and response rates ranging from 20 to 50% whencombined with cisplatin. Future research will look to refine the use oftaxane combinations in NSCLC and to examine the potential of theseunique and promising drugs when combined with newer agents that areactive against this disease.