Comparing Docetaxel Plus Cisplatin with Paclitaxel Plus Carboplatin in Chemotherapy-Naïve Patients with Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: a Single Institute Study

The backbone of treatment in advanced non-small cell lung cancer is platinum-based doublet chemotherapy. We intended to compare the effectiveness of two commonly used regimens in real world practice. This single institute, parallel comparative post marketing study included 100 patients with chemo-naïve advanced (stage IIIB, IV) non-small cell lung cancer and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 to 2. They were randomly assigned by stratified blocks to receive Docetaxel/Cisplatin (DC, n=50) on day 1 or Paclitaxel/Carboplatin AUC 5 (PC, n=50) on day 1, every 3 weeks for up to six cycles. Primary end point was progression free survival (PFS); secondary end points were objective response rate, overall survival (OS) and toxicity. The administered dosage could be modified according to clinician’s discretion for each individual patient. PFS was similar between DC and PC arms (4.5 ± 0.3 v 4.6 ± 1.8 months, respectively; HR= 1.337; 95% CI: 0.874 to 2.046, P = 0.181). Although median overall survival for DC arm was longer (17.2 ± 4.4 m) than PC arm (10.6 ± 0.7 m) but was not statistically significant (P = 0.300). The 1-year survival rates were in favor of DC arm (53.1% v 37.9%). Objective response rates were similar in both groups. In our study, hematologic toxicity and neuropathy were more frequent in DC and PC arms, respectively. In our study two commonly used regimens of DC and PC showed statistically similar outcomes in terms of PFS and OS, albeit numerically results of OS and 1-year survival were in favor of DC arm.