PMID: 9007113Dec 1, 1996Paper

Paclitaxel, carboplatin, and oral etoposide in the treatment of small cell lung cancer

Seminars in Oncology
F A Greco, J D Hainsworth

Abstract

Paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) is active in previously untreated patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). We evaluated the toxicity and efficacy of a 1-hour infusion of paclitaxel added to a combination regimen of carboplatin and etoposide in a phase II trial for the treatment of patients with SCLC. Thirty-eight patients with previously untreated SCLC were treated with paclitaxel 135 mg/m2 (1-hour intravenous infusion), day 1; carboplatin at area under the concentration-time curve of 5, day 1; and oral etoposide 100 and 50 mg (alternating days), days 1 to 10. Treatment cycles were repeated every 21 days for a total of four courses. Patients with limited-stage disease received radiation therapy (4,500 cGy in 25 fractions) concurrently with the last two courses of chemotherapy. This outpatient combination was easily tolerated. Grade 3 or 4 leukopenia was experienced in only 8% of courses; grades 3 and 4 thrombocytopenia and anemia were also infrequent. Nonhematologic toxicity was uncommon, with the exception of transient esophagitis, which occurred in six of 15 patients (grade 3 in five patients, grade 4 in one) receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Of 35 evaluable patients, 29 (83%) achieve...Continue Reading

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