The Safety of Paclitaxel/Platinum Combinations

ABSTRACT: The effectiveness of paclitaxel (Taxol) in a range of tumors has been established in a large number of trials. In non–small-cell lung cancer, paclitaxel combined with cisplatin (Platinol) has been shown to be highly effective. When paclitaxel is given as a 24-hour infusion, the paclitaxel/cisplatin combination has comparable efficacy to standard combinations. When paclitaxel is given in a 3-hour infusion in combination with cisplatin, efficacy is generally superior to standard combinations. However, a phase II study by the Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group demonstrates that paclitaxel, 175 mg/m², plus carboplatin (Paraplatin), at a target area under the concentration-time curve of 7 (AUC in mg/mL · min) was highly effective with mild toxicity. A subsequent phase III trial comparing paclitaxel at either 225 mg/m² or 175 mg/m² with carboplatin (AUC of 6 ) showed that although tolerability was generally good, toxicity increased at the higher dose of paclitaxel. Trials comparing the combination of paclitaxel with either cisplatin or carboplatin are awaited to confirm the optimal combination in non–small-cell lung cancer.[ONCOLOGY 13(Suppl 4):42-44, 1999]

Internal server error