A multicenter phase II study of the efficacy and safety of docetaxel plus cisplatin in Asian chemonaïve patients with metastatic or locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of docetaxel-cisplatin in patients with metastatic or locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Chemotherapy-naïve patients with histologically confirmed TNM stage III or IV NSCLC were recruited from 12 Asian trial centers. Patients received docetaxel (75 mg/m²) and cisplatin (75 mg/m²) every 3 weeks for 6 cycles. Results: 130 of 146 patients were evaluable for efficacy (60% stage IV). Three complete and 58 partial responses were observed (overall response rate: 46.9%; 95% Cl: 38.3-55.5%). Median time to progression was 6.9 months and median survival was 14.0 months; 1-year survival was 59.5%. Grade 3/4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia occurred in 69.2%, 6.2% and 18.5% of patients, respectively. Grade 3/4 vomiting was observed in 13.7% and grade 3/4 neurosensory effects were observed in 2.7% of patients. There was one case of treatment-related death due to sepsis. Conclusion: Docetaxel-cisplatin is an effective and well-tolerated treatment in Asian patients with NSCLC.