Paclitaxel-based combination chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Paclitaxel has proven to be a useful drug for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Paclitaxel-based combination chemotherapy, particularly with carboplatin, has become a very popular combination in the US. This article will review the conclusions of several studies regarding paclitaxel-based chemotherapy. The data provide evidence that this therapy produces good palliation and prolongation of survival for patients with NSCLC and is superior to older cisplatin-based chemotherapy. These results in patients with advanced disease have important implications for neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant approaches in patients with lower stages of disease, and several studies are ongoing.