Docetaxel in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

Abstract

Systemic chemotherapy provides improvement in both survival and quality of life for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Docetaxel is the only agent currently approved for both first- and second-line treatment of advanced NSCLC. Multiple randomized clinical trials have established the efficacy of platinum–docetaxel regimens for the first-line treatment of advanced NSCLC. Carboplatin-based regimens and nonplatinum combinations with docetaxel also have proven efficacy in first-line therapy. Combinations of docetaxel with various novel targeted agents have produced encouraging data in Phase II trials. This review article summarizes recent studies of docetaxel as a single agent and in combination regimens with cytotoxic or targeted therapies in the management of patients with advanced NSCLC.

Keywords::

• chemotherapy
• docetaxel
• non-small-cell lung cancer
• taxane

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.