“The combination of carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel demonstrates promising efficacy with tolerable toxicity in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) ineligible for therapy with bevacizumab,” said Gregory A. Otterson, MD, professor of internal medicine, co-director of the thoracic oncology program and associate director of the hematology and medical oncology fellowship program at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute in Columbus, Ohio.
Otterson and colleagues evaluated the drug combination in 63 patients with advanced NSCLC. Of the participating patients, 76% had squamous histology, making them ineligible for bevacizumab. Patients were prescribed 300 mg/m2/AUC6 every 21 days. This was later adjusted to 260 mg/m2/AUC6 due to excess neuropathy.
According to data presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2012, among 53 patients available for evaluation, the overall response rate was 41%. An additional 39% of patients had stable disease for at least 6 weeks. In 19% of patients, disease progressed.
“We have been surprised at the durability of response with some patients not requiring further treatment for at least 6 months,” Otterson said.
More than 10% of patients experienced grade 3/4 toxicities, including febrile neutropenia, hematologic toxicity, infection, sensory neuropathy, dyspnea, and dehydration. Four deaths were reported as grade 5 toxicities.
“This combination treatment should be an option, particularly for patients with squamous histology who have limited alternative options,” Otterson said.
Source: AACR.