Comparative analysis of carboplatin and paclitaxel combination chemotherapy schedules in previously untreated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

The combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel is one of the most commonly used regimens for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We aimed to compare the standard tri-weekly and weekly schedules of this treatment, while considering treatment-related hematological toxicities. We retrospectively analyzed the weekly [paclitaxel, 70 mg/m(2)/week on days 1, 8 and 15, and carboplatin, area under the curve (AUC)=6, every 4 weeks] and standard tri-weekly (paclitaxel, 200 mg/m(2), and carboplatin, AUC=6, on day 1 every 3 weeks] schedules in patients with previously untreated advanced NSCLC. A total of 167 patients were enrolled in this study. The median age of the patients was 65 years (range, 31–79 years). The weekly and standard arms included 73 and 94 patients, respectively. The incidence of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and neuropathy was significantly decreased in the weekly arm compared with the standard arm (37.0 vs. 70.2%). The median survival and progression-free survival times were 11.8 and 4.2 months, respectively, in the weekly arm and 11.6 and 3.1 months, respectively, in the standard arm. The results of the multivariate analysis indicated that the weekly schedule [hazard ratio (HR)=0.634, P=0.0262] and grade 3 or 4 neutropenia (HR=0.372, P=0.0007) were independent favorable prognostic factors for overall survival time. In conclusion, the weekly schedule of carboplatin and paclitaxel was less toxic than and potentially superior to the standard tri-weekly schedule. However, further optimization of the dose and schedule is warranted.