Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of
gemcitabine and docetaxel in pretreated patients with small-cell lung
cancer (SCLC). Patients and methods: Twenty-two pretreated patients
(median age 61 years, PS: 0-1 in 77% and 2 in 23%) with limited or
extensive stage disease were treated with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) on
days 1 and 8 and docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) on day 8, every 21 days. Fifteen
(68%) of the 22 patients had received two prior regimens and fourteen
(64%) were refractory to front-line chemotherapy. Results: All patients
were evaluable for efficacy analysis. No complete or partial responses
were observed. Disease stabilization was obtained in one (5%) patient.
The median survival was 14 weeks and the six-month survival rate was
28%. WHO grade 2 and 3 toxicities were infrequent and easily
manageable. Conclusion: The combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel was
inactive as salvage treatment in this poor prognosis group of patients
with SCLC. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved
