Phase II Study of Cisplatin Combined to Irinotecan Administered Alternatingly with Docetaxel in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Chaiyut Charoentum MD*, Sumitra Thongprasert MD*, Busayamas Chewasakulyong MD*, Juntima Euathrongchit MD**, Sirikul Sorraritchingchai MD*, Sutthirak Munprakan RN*
Affiliation : * Department of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai ** Department of Radiology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai
Objective : To assess the activity and toxicity of cisplatin and irinotecan alternating with docetaxel in patients
with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Materials and Methods : Eligibility included chemo-naïve stage IIIB with malignant effusion and stage IV
NSCLC patients with measurable disease and a good performance status. Twenty-four patients were enrolled
into the present study. There were 19 males and 5 females with a median age of 58.5 years and the median
performance status was 1. Ninety-six percent had stage IV disease. These patients received cisplatin at 80 mg/
m2 and irinotecan at 200 mg/m2 on day 1, followed by docetaxel at 75 mg/m2 on day 22, in 6-week cycle for a
maximum of 3 cycles.
Results : Eight out of twenty-two evaluable patients obtained a partial response (36%). The median time to
tumor progression was 6 months. The median survival time and 1-year survival rate were 10.4 months and
45% respectively. The most frequent severe toxicities were neutropenia, anemia, and diarrhea. Febrile neutro-
penia occurred in four patients (16%), and was the cause of treatment-related deaths in two (8%). Other non-
hematologic toxicities were mild including nausea, vomiting, and skin rash.
Conclusion : Alternating cisplatin and irinotecan with docetaxel, as used in the present study was feasible and
demonstrated encouraging efficacy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. However, this approach
appears to be more toxic, especially in myelosuppression, than in previous reports of the sequential use of the
similar agents.
Keywords : Phase II study, Cisplatin, Irinotecan, Docetaxel, Non-small cell lung cancer
