[Taxane-based palliative chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer: matched pair analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of docetaxel and paclitaxel].
OBJECTIVE
A retrospective comparison of the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel and paclitaxel in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) was conducted based on our institution's experience since 1992.


METHODS
Two groups of 43 patients who received a similar chemotherapy regimen containing either docetaxel or paclitaxel were matched for the number of prior treatments.


RESULTS
Toxicity was mild in both groups. Tumour growth control, defined as either objective response or stable disease for at least 6 months, was obtained in a significantly higher proportion of patients treated with docetaxel compared with paclitaxel (67 % vs. 44 %, p = 0.001). Moreover, fewer patients progressed during treatment with docetaxel (28 % vs. 53 %, p < 0.001). At a median follow-up of 17 months there was no significant difference between the groups in median progression-free survival (7 vs. 5 months, p = 0.123) or median overall survival (OS) (12 vs. 11 months, p = 0.211). According to the method of Kaplan and Meier estimated OS rates at 1 year (74 % vs. 62 %) and 2 years (50 % vs. 26 %), however, were in favour of docetaxel. In a multivariate analysis only a positive hormone receptor status was significantly associated with improved OS.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that docetaxel may be superior to paclitaxel in the treatment of MBC.
Schneeweiss
A
A
Universitäts-Frauenklinik Heidelberg. andreas_schneeweiss@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Lenz
F
F
Beldermann
F
F
Geberth
M
M
Goerner
R
R
Solomayer
E
E
Bastert
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel