Weekly carboplatin and paclitaxel in elderly non-small-cell lung cancer patients (≥65 years of age): A phase II North Central Cancer Treatment Group study

The purpose of this study was to determine the tumor response rate and toxicity profile of low-dose weekly carboplatin and paclitaxel in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients 65 or more years of age. Forty-nine patients 65 years of age or more with advanced non-SCLC with a median age of 73 years (range: 65-85) and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0, 1, or 2 in 31%, 47%, and 22% of patients, respectively, were treated and evaluated. Patients received carboplatin (AUC = 2) and paclitaxel 50 mg/m² on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 4-week cycle. The overall confirmed tumor response rate was 14% (95% CI: 4.7%, 32.5%) with no complete responses. The 1-year survival rate was 31% (95% CI: 20%, 48%). There was one treatment-related death, and there were two grade IV allergic reactions to chemotherapy. No other grade IV or V treatment-related toxicities were observed. There were only three episodes of grade III myelosuppression. Low-dose weekly carboplatin and paclitaxel, as prescribed in this trial, provides modest activity in the treatment of advanced non-SCLC patients 65 or more years of age. However, the relatively mild toxicity profile observed in this trial suggests that this regimen might remain an option for patients at increased risk for myelosuppression or with a poor performance status.