Long progression-free survival with first-line paclitaxel plus platinum is associated with improved response and progression-free survival with second-line docetaxel in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Abstract

Paclitaxel and docetaxel are two taxanes approved for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, there is limited evidence regarding the efficacy of docetaxel in NSCLC previously treated with a paclitaxel-platinum doublet (PP). The aim of our study was to evaluate the response to docetaxel in NSCLC patients with prior PP treatment. Patients with stage IV NSCLC treated with PP that presented disease progression and received docetaxel as second-line treatment were included. Demographics, clinical characteristics, EGFR mutation status, objective response (OR), overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and PFS without chemotherapy after first line with PP were analyzed. Sixty-three patients were evaluated. Median age was 58 years, 54% of patients were women, 53% were never-smokers, and 39% had EGFR mutations. OR and median PFS for PP were 36.5% and 6.7 months, respectively. OR and median PFS for docetaxel were 19% and 3.8 months, respectively. Patients with EGFR mutations had better response to docetaxel compared with wild-type patients (26 vs. 17%, p = 0.028). However, only long PFS (>6 months) to first-line PP was independently associated with a higher OR [RR 6.3, 95% CI (1.03-38.4), p = 0.046], and longer PFS [0.49 (0.25-0.9)] and OS [0.2 (0.06-0.7), p = 0.008] to second-line docetaxel compared with patients with short PFS (≤6 months) to PP. Previous use of PP does not preclude a favorable response to docetaxel in NSCLC. Long PFS with PP may help select NSCLC patients who benefit from second-line docetaxel.