• Lung Cancer Disease Site Group. Chu Q, Vincent M, Logan D, Mackay JA, Evans WK. The role of taxanes in first-line therapy of advanced non-small cell lung cancer [full report]. Toronto (ON): Cancer Care Ontario (CCO); 2004 Jul 20. 49 p. (Practice guideline report; no. 7-7-1). [65 references]

• The combination of paclitaxel (Taxol®) or docetaxel (Taxotere®) with cisplatin can be recommended as one of a number of chemotherapy options in the first-line therapy of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and a good performance status.
• In patients who have a contraindication to the use of cisplatin or who experience serious toxicity from cisplatin and/or refuse treatment with cisplatin, the substitution of carboplatin for cisplatin in a taxane doublet regimen may be a reasonable treatment option.
• The most commonly used taxane-based regimens in North America have been administered on a three-weekly schedule and include: i) docetaxel 75 mg/m² with cisplatin 75 mg/m², ii) paclitaxel 225 mg/m² as a 3-hour infusion with carboplatin area under the curve (AUC) 6, and iii) paclitaxel 135 mg/m² as a 24-hour infusion with cisplatin 75 mg/m². However, there have been few direct comparisons of different doses and schedules for taxane-based combinations, and firm recommendations regarding optimal doses and schedules cannot be made at this time. Whether a weekly administration schedule of docetaxel or paclitaxel is associated with less toxicity than a three-weekly schedule remains to be determined.
• In patients for whom combination chemotherapy is inappropriate, single-agent taxane therapy is acceptable treatment.

None provided

The recommendations are supported by randomized trials.

• Lung Cancer Disease Site Group. Chu Q, Vincent M, Logan D, Mackay JA, Evans WK. The role of taxanes in first-line therapy of advanced non-small cell lung cancer [full report]. Toronto (ON): Cancer Care Ontario (CCO); 2004 Jul 20. 49 p. (Practice guideline report; no. 7-7-1). [65 references]

Not applicable: The guideline was not adapted from another source.

2004 Jul 20

Program in Evidence-based Care - State/Local Government Agency [Non-U.S.]

The Practice Guidelines Initiative (PGI) is the main project of the Program in Evidence-based Care (PEBC), a Province of Ontario initiative sponsored by Cancer Care Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Cancer Care Ontario
Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

Lung Cancer Disease Site Group

Members of the Lung Disease Site Group (DSG) disclosed potential conflict of interest information.

None available

This NGC summary was completed by ECRI on November 15, 2004. The information was verified by the guideline developer on December 13, 2004.