Biweekly Administration of Docetaxel and Gemcitabine as Adjuvant Therapy for Stage II and IIIA Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Phase II Study

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the overall survival, progression-free survival, and toxicity associated with adjuvant administration of docetaxel and gemcitabine for completely resected patients with stage II and IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and Methods: Thirty-nine eligible patients had surgical resection for pathological stage II or IIIA disease and received postoperative gemcitabine 1000 mg/m² followed by docetaxel 80 mg/m² on days 1 and 14. Cycles were repeated every 28 days. Results: Treatment compliance was acceptable, at 83%. The median duration of follow-up, time to disease progression, and overall survival was 36.7 months, 17 months and 21 months, respectively. Toxicities were acceptable. Treatment failure revealed brain metastasis (15%), intrathoracic recurrence (24%) and systemic metastasis (36%). Conclusion: The biweekly administration of docetaxel and gemcitabine is a safe, well-tolerated and convenient chemotherapy regimen in the adjuvant setting of completely resected NSCLC stage II and III, with efficacy similar to that reported in other regimens. Hence, this non-platinum based regimen appears promising and warrants further evaluation.