Docetaxel and mitomycin as second-line treatment in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility, toxicity and efficacy of the combination of docetaxel and mitomycin C as second-line chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and methods: Thirty-eight patients with histologically confirmed, locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC were included in this phase II trial. All patients had been previously treated with a platinum-based regimen. Treatment consisted of docetaxel (75 mg/m²) followed by mitomycin C (8 mg/m²) on day 1, every 21 days. Patients received a minimum of three courses unless progressive disease was detected. Results: A total of 190 courses of docetaxel-mitomycin C were administered (median five courses per patient). This combination was well tolerated with grade 3–4 toxicity experienced with the following frequency: neutropenia in five patients (13%), fatigue in four (11%), anaemia, thrombocytopenia, nausea/vomiting and peripheral neuropathy in one each (3%). Three of 38 patients had a partial response (8%, 95% confidence interval 2.6–21.6%), 14 patients (37%) experienced stabilization of disease and 21 (55%) had disease progression. Median time to progression was 3.6 months. Overall median survival was 10.4 months, with the 1-year actuarial survival rate being 35%. Conclusions: The addition of mitomycin C to docetaxel as second-line therapy in NSCLC is well tolerated but does not seem to improve the response rate.