RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Docetaxel plus Gemcitabine as First-line Treatment in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: A Single Institution Phase II Study
JF Anticancer Research
JO Anticancer Res
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 3441
OP 3444
VO 29
IS 8
A1 RALLI, MARIA
A1 TOURKANTONIS, IOANNIS
A1 MAKRILIA, NEKTARIA
A1 GKINI, ELENI
A1 KOTTEAS, ELIAS
A1 GKIOZOS, IOANNIS
A1 KATIRTZOGLOU, NIKOLAOS
A1 SYRIGOS, KOSTAS
YR 2009
UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/29/8/3441.abstract
AB 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/m2 of docetaxel and 1,000 mg/m2 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.