BACKGROUNDTo evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of domestic paclitaxel-based regimens in the treatment of advanced lung cancer.

METHODSDomestic paclitaxel 135-175 mg/m² on day 1 of a 21-day cycle or 45-70 mg/m² on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 21-day or 28-day cycle. The domestic paclitaxel was respectively combined with platinum or ifosfamide to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer (2 cases in stage IIIB, 25 in stage stage IV) or small cell lung cancer (1 extensive case, 3 limited cases).

RESULTSThere were 29 cases to be evaluated, complete response wasn't observed, partial response rate was 31.0% (9/29). The response rate for initial and retreated patients was 38.5% (5/13) and 25.0% (4/16) (P=0.688) respectively. The response rate of non-small cell lung cancer was 24.0% (6/25) and small cell lung cancer's was 3/4. The common adverse effects were hematological toxicity (28/31, 90.3%) and nausea/vomiting (28/31, 90.3%).

CONCLUSIONSCombined chemotherapy including domestic paclitaxel has better curative effect for advanced lung cancer and some tolerable adverse effects.

Background and objective Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is commonly overexpressed in lung squamous cell carcinoma and has been associated with impaired prognosis. hTe aim of this study was to observe the ef-ifcacy and safety of nimotuzumab, a anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, combined with chemotherapy as second- or later-line in the treatment of advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma.Methods A retrospective analysis of clinical data was conducted in 13 patients with advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma, who were administered with nimotuzumab combined with chemo-therapy as second-line or later-line treatment. hTe effcacy of therapy was evaluated according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 and safety by National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC) 4.0.Results Of the 13 advanced squamous-cell lung cancer patients, one patient had complete response (CR), 2 patients had partial re-sponse (PR), 4 cases had stable disease (SD), and 6 patients had progressive disease. hTe overall response rate (ORR) was 23.1% and clinical beneift rate (CBR) was 53.8%. EGFR expression were detected by immunohistochemistry in 6 patients and the results showed 5 patients were EGFR 3+ and the other was EGFR 2+. Of these 6 EGFR positive patients, 1 case had CR, 1 case had PR and 4 cases had SD; ORR was 33.3% and CBR was 100.0%. Grade 3/4 hematological toxicities were observed in 3 (23.1%) patients, and non-hametological toxicities were mild. Nimotuzumab-associated skin rash was found in 2 (15.4%) patients.ConclusionNimotuzumab combined with chemotherapy as second- or later-line therapy for advanced squamous cell lung carcinoma was active and well-tolerated, especially for those patients with EGFR positive.

Background and objective Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody directed against epidermal growth fac-tor receptor. Emerging evidence showed improved effcacy with the addition of cetuximab to chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the data in oriental population are limited. hTe aim of this study is to investigate the eff-cacy of cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy in Chinese patients with advanced NSCLC.Methods NSCLC patients receiving cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College were enrolled and retrospectively analyzed. Clinical characteristic, effcacy, outcome and toxicity data were analyzed.Results A total of 40 patients were enrolled into this study in which 29 were male, 36 with adenocarcinoma. In the 23 patients who had received palliative chemotherapy previously (with a median of 2 prior chemotherapy regimens), the median progression-free survival (PFS) atfer the last prior chemotherapy regimen was 2.3 months. For the overall population, 13 (32.5%) patients achieved partial response atfer cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy. Response rate were 52.9% (9/17) and 17.4% (4/23) in chemotherapy-naive patients and chemotherapy-treated patients, respectively (P=0.018). hTe median PFS was 4.8 months for the overall population. In chemotherapy-naive patients and chemotherapy-treated patients, the median PFS was 8.4 months and 4.1 months, respectively (P=0.062). hTe estimated median overall survival was 17.1 months. Toxicities were generally manageable and no treatment-related deaths occurred.Conclusion Cetuximab in addition to che-motherapy appears to be associated with promising effcacy and acceptable toxicity proifle in Chinese patients with advanced NSCLC. Further validation is needed.