A Randomized Phase II Trial of Two Schedules of Docetaxel in Elderly or Poor Performance Status Patients with Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

Weekly docetaxel is associated with less neutropenia and a trend toward improved survival in elderly or PS 2 patients. PS rather than age is the primary determinant of outcome in this population. Octogenarians benefited from weekly docetaxel. Future studies should separate elderly patients from PS 2 patients.

A phase II study of combination chemotherapy with docetaxel and carboplatin for elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

“…This incidence of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia could possible be due to the proper intervention, including delay of chemotherapy administration, dose modification and application of G-CSF for treating neutropenia. This incidence of neutropenia could be considered as acceptable toxicity, when compared with that for docetaxel monotherapy [33][34][35].…”

Randomized controlled trial comparing docetaxel-cisplatin combination with weekly docetaxel alone in elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) 0207

“…A weekly D schedule (24) was selected as a control regimen instead of the triweekly schedule widely used in our country to facilitate the interpretation of study results. In addition, a previous study comparing the two schedules of D for elderly patients with advanced NSCLC reported a trend toward longer survival using a weekly regimen (25).…”

Lung Cancer in Elderly

“…Therefore, vinorelbine is safe for elderly patient, even in those with poor performance status (Camerini et al, 2010). Previously, another study with docetaxel in monotherapy, comparing weekly to 3-weekly administration, had also conclude that this treatment is effective and well tolerated in older patients, even with poor performance status (Lilenbaum et al, 2007). An international expert panel ruled in favour of the use of single-agent chemotherapy in the elderly cancer patient.…”