Background: To evaluate the results of combined chemotherapy with paclitaxel (PTX, taxol) plus cisplatin (DDP) in the treatment of advanced non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods: From January 1997 to December 2002, forty-seven patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer received PTX 135-180 mg/m² by intravenous infusion, on day 1, and DDP 40 mg/time by intravenous infusion,on days 1-3. The treatment was repeated every 3 weeks, up to 2 or 3 cycles.
Results: Forty-six patients were evaluable for efficacy. One patient got complete response (2.2%), and 16 got partial response (34.8%), with an overall response rate of 37.0%. The main toxicities were myelosuppression, nausea and vomiting, and other side effects were mild.
Conclusions: A high response rate can be obtained in advanced NSCLC by PTX plus DDP. PTX is a promising antitumor agent with tolerable toxicity.