Safety and efficacy of single-agent docetaxel (Taxotere) administered weekly in non-small cell lung carcinoma patients in Korea: An observational study

Background: To investigate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of weekly docetaxel treatment in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in Korea. Methods: This prospective observational study included Korean advanced NSCLC patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status <2 who received weekly monotherapy of docetaxel at a dose determined by the physician. Efficacy measurements included tumor response rate, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival, and one-year survival rate. Safety was analyzed through recorded incidences of adverse events (AEs), serious adverse events (SAEs), deaths, and other related safety parameters, along with their toxicity grades. Results:: Of 274 patients analyzed, one patient achieved a complete response and 42 partial responses; thus, the overall response rate was 15.7%. The OS rate at baseline and at one-year follow-up was 38.3% and 33.8%, respectively. AEs were reported in 229 (83.6%) patients. The most frequently reported hematologic AE of grade ≥3 was a decrease in neutrophils, with 6.6% of the patients developing neutropenia. In non-hematologic AEs of grade ≥3, the most common were infection with unknown absolute neutrophil count and death not associated with Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) (4.7% each). The most common SAE reported was death, not associated with CTCAE (7.3%). Conclusions: In Korean patients, the weekly regimen of docetaxel monotherapy was safe and efficacious against advanced NSCLC.