Effect of medical thoracoscopy‐guided intrapleural docetaxel therapy to manage malignant pleural effusion in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer: A pilot study

BACKGROUND: Although chemical pleurodesis is a useful treatment option for malignant pleural effusion, little is known about the effects of intrapleural docetaxel therapy. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of medical thoracoscopy‐guided intrapleural docetaxel therapy in patients with lung cancer. METHODS: Patients with lung cancer who diagnosed malignant pleural effusion were enrolled in this single‐center prospective pilot study. The clinical response and toxicity were evaluated at two, six and 12 weeks post‐treatment. RESULTS: Medical thoracoscopy‐guided intrapleural docetaxel therapy was conducted in four patients between June 2016 and August 2017. The control rate of malignant pleural effusion was 100% (4/4), and the progression‐free duration of effusion was 527 ± 109 days. No serious adverse events were observed, but only mild‐to‐moderate adverse events were observed and well controlled by conservative management. Although the overall quality of life assessed using questionnaires did not show significant improvement, symptom burden due to dyspnea was significantly improved. CONCLUSIONS: Intrapleural docetaxel therapy with medical thoracoscopy showed good clinical responses, relieving dyspnea symptoms and providing tolerable safety profiles in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with malignant pleural effusion. A further prospective trial is warranted to evaluate the clinical effects of intrapleural docetaxel therapy in order to compare it with other treatment modalities.