Phase II randomized trial of tri-weekly versus days 1 and 8 weekly docetaxel as a second-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Background: For orientals, titrating doses of docetaxel (60-66 mg/m²) have shown equal effectiveness and fewer side effects as a second-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Under such doses, there were no comparative data between classic tri-weekly and Days 1 and 8 weekly schedules. Methods: This Phase II randomized prospective study was designed to compare the toxicity profile, efficacy and quality-of-life (QOL) between these two schedules of docetaxel in the treatment of previously treated patients with advanced NSCLC. Fifty patients were randomized to docetaxel arm A (66 mg/m² Day 1) and B (33 mg/m² Days 1 and 8) given every 3 weeks. Results: The overall response rates (ORRs) were 12 and 24% in arm A and B, respectively (P= 0.46), and disease control rates were 52 and 48%. The median time-to-progression (TTP) was 11.3 and 12.7 weeks and median survivals were 33.4 and 27.6 weeks, respectively. Both arms have same 1 year (36%) and 2 year survivals (12%). Arm A had significantly higher neutropenia but less compromised QOL. In this study, the response of second-line chemotherapy was significantly better in the group that was response to front-line chemotherapy (P= 0.032). Conclusions: While Days 1 and 8 weekly docetaxel schedules show higher ORR and less hematological toxicity, there is no advantage to tri-week schedule in terms of TTP and survival, but more compromised QOL.