A pilot study of a metronomic chemotherapy regimen with weekly low-dose docetaxel for previously treated non-small cell lung cancer

Takashi Yokoi, Takeshi Tamaki, Toshiki Shimizu, Shosaku Nomura

First Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi City, Osaka, Japan

Background: Low-dose metronomic (LDM) chemotherapy is a novel approach that involves frequent administration of a low dose of chemotherapeutic agent without a long interval.
Purpose: The aim of this clinical pilot study was to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of LDM chemotherapy with weekly low-dose docetaxel for previously treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Patients and methods: The enrolled patients received 15 mg/m² of docetaxel intravenously on a weekly basis without any interval.
Results: Twenty-seven patients were enrolled in the study; 20 were men, and seven were women. The median age was 62 years (range: 32–75). Eleven patients were stage IIIB, and 16 were stage IV. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status was 0 or 1. There was no severe hematological adverse effect; importantly, there was no neutropenia or thrombocytopenia. The objective response rate was 7.4% and the disease control rate was 51.9%. The median survival time was 16.4 months (95% CI: 5.7–36.4).
Conclusion: Our preliminary results indicate that our metronomic regimen was well tolerated and active in patients with previously treated NSCLC. Thus, further investigation of this LDM regimen is warranted.

Keywords: optimal biological dose, metronomic chemotherapy, docetaxel