Carboplatin plus paclitaxel in extensive small cell lung cancer: a multicentre phase 2 study

Abstract

A multicentre phase 2 trial (single-stage design) was undertaken to test the efficacy and toxicity of carboplatin (AUC 6 according to Calvert) plus paclitaxel (175 mg/m 2 3-h infusion) every 4 weeks in the first line treatment of patients affected by extensive small cell lung cancer. The primary end-point of the trial was the objective response rate. 31 objective responses among 50 patients were considered necessary to proceed to a phase 3 trial. 48 patients were enrolled (median age 59 years). Treatment was very well tolerated. 3 patients (6.2%) had a complete response and 23 (47.9%) a partial response, for an overall response rate of 54.2% (95% CI: 39.2–68.6) Median time to progression was 5.7 months (95% CI: 5.2–6.2). Median survival was 9.6 months (95% CI: 7.2–14.6), with a median follow-up time of alive patients of 12 months. At 1 year, the probability of being progression-free or alive was 0.16 and 0.43, respectively. In conclusion, carboplatin plus paclitaxel as given in the present study is very well tolerated but not sufficiently active to warrant phase 3 comparison with standard chemotherapy regimens. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.com

Combination chemotherapy with cisplatin, etoposide and irinotecan in patients with extensive small-cell lung cancer: A phase II study of the Hellenic Co-operative Oncology Group

“…Among new classes of drugs, taxanes and camptothecines have shown the most promising antitumor activity [7,8]. However, it has now been proven that paclitaxel combined with cisplatin/etoposide does not offer any significant advantage over the standard combination [9,10]. The camptothecin derivative irinotecan appears to be among the most promising new agents against lung cancer and has been shown excellent antitumor activity against SCLC as single agent and in combination with cisplatin [11,12].…”

Paclitaxel and carboplatin for large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix

“…Finally, because of the more common incidence of pulmonary SCNEC and LCNEC than the cervical counterpart, the effective chemotherapy for these particular cancers was also studied. Reports of its efficacy with only modest toxicity in small cell lung cancer as the first‐line chemotherapy or as salvage treatment further supported our decision 22,23 . We used paclitaxel 175 mg/m 2 and carboplatin at AUC 5, instead of 200 mg/m 2 dose of paclitaxel from the report of small cell lung cancer 23 .…”

Phase II Trial of Paclitaxel and Cisplatin in Patients with Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer: Cancer and Leukemia Group B Trial 9430

“…The combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin has previously been investigated in patients with untreated ES-SCLC in two phase II trials 26, 27. A phase II trial performed by Thomas et al investigated treatment with paclitaxel and carboplatin every three weeks (n=50) 26.…”

“…The median overall survival observed was 38 weeks. A second phase II trial performed by Gridelli et al investigated paclitaxel and carboplatin every four weeks (n=48) 27. The response rate observed was 54.2% (95% CI, 39.2 to 68.6%) with three complete responses and 23 partial responses.…”