A retrospective study of carboplatin and weekly paclitaxel combination chemotherapy for elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Mito, A.; Yamasaki, M.; Ohashi, N.; Kajihara, T.; Nitta, T.; Awaya, H.; Ikegami, Y.; Arita, K-ichi.
Gan to Kagaku Ryoho. Cancer and ChemoTherapy 37(9): 1707-1711
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 0385-0684 PMID: 20841932 Document Number: 646680
To perform a retrospective analysis of carboplatin (CBDCA) and weekly paclitaxel (PTX) combination chemotherapy for elderly patients with unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in order to evaluate both treatment efficacy and toxicity. 48 patients aged more than 70 years with non-resectable NSCLC who received CBDCA+weekly PTX from January 2001 to March 2008. The median age of the patients (32 male, 16 female) was 74 years. Patients received 1-6 courses of this chemotherapy (median 4 courses). The overall response rate, time to progression, median survival time and 1-year survival rate was 51%, 183 days, 411 days and 52%, respectively. With regard to toxicity, grade 3-4 neutropenia was observed in 38% of patients and anemia in 25% of the patients, and 29% of the patients had grade 2 and above periferal nerve disorder. This regimen showed a good response and was safe for elderly patients with advanced NSCLC, but a high incidence of neuropathy was observed.