Background: Chemotherapy is an important treatment for un-resectable lung cancer patients. The aim of this study is to investigate effects and safety of weekly paclitaxel/cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy in un-resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods: Thirty-eight initially treated patients (male/female: 20/18) with un-resectable NSCLC were enrolled for the study. They were at ages ranging from 33 to 82 years old with ECOG PS of 0 to 2. Paclitaxel 80mg/m² was given by intravenous infusion on 1st and 8th day, and cisplatin 25mg/m² on 2th to 6th days, 3 to 4 weeks was one cycle. The responses and toxicity of chemotherapy were evaluated after six cycles and the patients were followed up.
Results: In 38 patients, partial response and complete response were observed in 21 cases and 1 case, respectively with overall response rate of 57.9%. The response rate in cases with ECOG of 0 to 1 was significantly higher than those with ECOG PS of 2 (69.0% vs 22.2%). Median survival time was 14 months and 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rate were 63.8%, 29.5% and 16.2% respectively. Main Toxicities were leucopenia and alopecia, and all patients could tolerate the side effects and there was no drug-related death associated with myelotoxicity.
Conclusions: Regimen of paclitaxel/cisplatin was efficient and safe as the first-line treatment for un-resectable NSCLC patients.