Adjuvant cisplatin and docetaxel for non-small cell lung cancer: the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania experience.

BACKGROUND

Cisplatin and docetaxel (Doc) are commonly used for adjuvant therapy for non-small cell lung cancer based on extrapolation from the metastatic setting. Nevertheless, essentially no data have been published on this regimen in the adjuvant context, leading to controversy, particularly surrounding feasibility.

METHODS

Using a tumor database augmented with chart reviews, we retrospectively evaluated treatment outcomes of all patients receiving postoperative cisplatin (75 mg/m) and Doc (75 mg/m) between August 2003 and November 2008. During this period, this regimen was considered to be the first choice regimen for sufficiently fit patients at the University of Pennsylvania.

RESULTS

The database captured 54 patients. Overall, 85.2% received all four planned cycles (83.3% at full dose). Chart review allowed definitive assessment of toxicity in 47 patients. A single patient (2%) died of grade 5 febrile neutropenia. There was no grade 4 toxicity, and 8.5% experienced grade 3 febrile neutropenia. No febrile neutropenia was observed in 26 patients given prophylactic peg-filgrastim. The incidence was 23.8% in the 21 patients not given peg-filgrastim during the first cycle; 6.4% each experienced grade 3 gastritis, anorexia, nausea, and fatigue, and 2.1% experienced grade 3 diarrhea. Median progression-free survival was 17.9 months, and median overall survival has not been reached.

CONCLUSIONS

Cisplatin and Doc are feasible in the adjuvant setting with superior dose delivery and convenience compared with historic data with cisplatin and vinorelbine.