Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine and evaluate the recommended dose of docetaxel in combination with a novel oral 5-fluorouracil analogue S-1 and evaluate the efficacy and safety in patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer.
Methods: In phase I, patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer were treated with docetaxel (starting dose 40 mg/m) intravenously on day 1 and oral administration of S-1 at a fixed dose of 80 mg/m on days 1 to14 every 3 weeks. The recommended dose was the dose level preceding the maximum tolerated dose; once determined, patients were enrolled in phase II.
Results: The recommended dose of docetaxel was 40 mg/m in combination with S-1 80 mg/m/d. Of 30 patients enrolled in phase II part, 29 patients were eligible and analyzed. No complete response and 7 (24.1%) partial responses were observed, for an overall response rate of 24.1% (95% confidence interval, 10.3-43.5%). Median overall survival was 11.8 months. The 1-year survival rate was 42%. The grade 3 to 4 hematologic toxicities were neutropenia (34.5%), leukopenia (20.6%), and anemia (10.3%). The grade 3 to 4 nonhematological toxicities included fever 2 (6.9%), diarrhea 1 (3.4%), stomatitis 1 (3.4%), cerebral infarction 1 (3.4%), and pneumonitis 1 (3.4%). There was one treatment-related death due to relapse of drug induced pneumonitis.
Conclusions: This combination chemotherapy is highly active and well tolerated in previously treated patients with non-small cell lung cancer. These results are encouraging and warrant additional investigation.