Phase II Trial of Sequential Vinorelbine and Docetaxel in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Age Seventy and Older, or With Performance Status 2

OBJECTIVES:

• Determine the survival of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who are either age 70 and over or who have performance status 2, when treated with sequential vinorelbine and docetaxel. (Age 70 and older with Zubrod 0-1 stratum closed to accrual as of 2/15/2003.)
• Determine the objective tumor response rates, including confirmed and unconfirmed and complete and partial, in patients treated with this regimen.
• Assess the dose delivered and the reported functional symptom status of patients treated with this regimen.
• Determine the toxic effects of this regimen in these patients.
• Determine the feasibility of performing pharmacokinetic studies and obtaining pharmacokinetic data on these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to age and performance status (age 70 and over with Zubrod 0-1 vs age 18 and over with Zubrod 2). (Age 70 and older with Zubrod 0-1 stratum closed to accrual as of 2/15/2003.)

Patients receive vinorelbine IV over 6-10 minutes on days 1 and 8. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 3 courses in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. Beginning 2 weeks after the last dose of vinorelbine, patients receive docetaxel IV over 1 hour on days 1, 8, and 15. Treatment repeats every 28 days for 3 courses in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.

Quality of life is assessed at baseline, at the beginning of courses 2-6, and at week 22.