Docetaxel plus gemcitabine as first-line treatment in malignant pleural mesothelioma: a single institution phase II study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The cisplatin-pemetrexed and cisplatin-gemcitabine combinations are considered the standard treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of gemcitabine plus docetaxel in the first-line setting, as this combination has not been investigated in mesothelioma before.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Twenty-five consecutive patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma were enrolled. They received 80 mg/m(2) of docetaxel and 1,000 mg/m(2) of gemcitabine on days 1 and 14 of a 28-day cycle. The treatment was scheduled for a maximum of 6 cycles or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

RESULTS:

A total of 7 out of our 25 patients (28%) responded to treatment. In 14 patients (56%), the disease remained stable, while in 4 (16%) it progressed. The median time to progression was 7 months (range: 5.4-8.6 months) and the median overall survival was 15 months (range: 12.4-17.5 months).

CONCLUSION:

The administration of gemcitabine and doctaxel appears to be promising first-line therapy for patients with mesothelioma, as it is well tolerated and appears to improve survival.

• Authors: Maria Ralli, Ioannis Tourkantonis, Nektaria Makrilia, Eleni Gkini, Elias Kotteas, Ioannis Gkiozos, Nikolaos Katirtzoglou, Kostas Syrigos
• Journal: Anticancer research (Anticancer Res) Vol. 29 Issue 8 Pg. 3441-4 (Aug 2009) ISSN: 1791-7530 [Electronic] Greece
• PMID: 19661370 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Phase II, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Taxoids
• Deoxycytidine
• Docetaxel
• Gemcitabine

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Deoxycytidine (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives)
• Disease Progression
• Docetaxel
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Maximum Tolerated Dose
• Mesothelioma (drug therapy, pathology)
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Staging
• Pleural Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Prognosis
• Quality of Life
• Survival Rate
• Taxoids (administration & dosage)
• Treatment Outcome
• Gemcitabine