Phase I/II study of concurrent twice-weekly paclitaxel and weekly cisplatin with radiation therapy for stage III non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

The optimal chemoradiation regimen for stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been determined. In this phase I/II study, the use of twice-weekly paclitaxel concomitant with weekly cisplatin and thoracic radiotherapy (RT) was evaluated. Patients with stage III NSCLC (without pleural effusion or cervical lymphadenopathy) were treated with thoracic RT (60 Gy in 30 fractions over 6 weeks) with concurrent weekly cisplatin 20 mg/m2 and escalating doses of twice-weekly paclitaxel (starting dose of paclitaxel of 20 mg/m2 increased in increments of 5 mg/m2) in successive cohorts of three to six patients until two or more patients experienced dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) at a particul..