[Clinical investigation of weekly Carboplatin and Paclitaxel with concurrent radiation therapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer].

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively chemotherapy of weekly carboplatin and paclitaxel with concurrent radiation therapy for patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between January 2000 and March 2008, 38 patients were treated by chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel once a week, repeated for 6 weeks, with thoracic radiation therapy of 1 or 2 times a day on weekdays. After concurrent chemoradiotherapy, we planned consolidation chemotherapy of carboplatin(AUC 5-6)and weekly paclitaxel(70- 80 mg/m(2)) on day 1, 8 and 15, when possible.

RESULTS

The enrolled patients were 31 men and 7 women, with the median age of 59 years (39-76 years), stage III A/III B: 10/28, Ad/Sq/AdSq/Un: 17/17/2/2. The response rate of this chemoradiotherapy was 78. 9%. The median survival time and time to progression were 24. 7 months and 8. 1 months, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicities during concomitant chemoradiotherapy were leukocytopenia(5. 2%)and neutropenia(5. 2%). Grade 3 or 4 non-hematological toxicities were esophagitis(2. 6%)and pneumonitis (5. 2%). There was a therapy-associated death by radiation pneumonitis.

CONCLUSION

Carboplatin and paclitaxel with concurrent radiation therapy for a patient with stage III NSCLC showed a good response with relatively mild side effects. We reached the conclusion that concurrent chemoradiotherapy would be a useful choice for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer on the practical clinic.