title: Low-dose weekly docetaxel is as tolerable as pemetrexed in previously treated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Docetaxel and pemetrexed have been validated as therapeutics for previously treated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but tolerability is a concern for standard treatment with docetaxel administered once every 3 weeks (tri-weekly 75-mg/m(2) schedule). We conducted this retrospective study to compare the efficacy and toxicity of weekly low-dose docetaxel versus tri-weekly pemetrexed for previously treated advanced NSCLC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients who received low-dose single docetaxel (30 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks) or pemetrexed (500 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks) at a single university-affiliated hospital following failure of previous treatment were retrospectively reviewed. Their outcomes and toxicity profiles were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  179 patients were included between 2005 and 2008 (docetaxel, n = 79; pemetrexed, n = 100). Both groups had similar hematologic (16.5 vs. 15.0%; p = 0.84) and non-hematologic (20.3 vs. 24%; p = 0.55) toxicities. After controlling for confounding factors, docetaxel remained superior to pemetrexed for progression-free survival (median 4.0 vs. 2.4 months; hazard ratio 0.64; 95% CI 0.47-0.87; p = 0.005) and overall survival (median 15.0 vs.8.5 months; hazard ratio 0.54; 95% CI 0.38-0.77; p <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although this study showed that weekly low doses of docetaxel were as tolerable as pemetrexed for previously treated advanced NSCLC, a prospective design is needed to confirm this finding.
authors: Department of Thoracic Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors: Fu-Tsai
authors: FT
authors: Chung
authors: Kang-Yun
authors: KY
authors: Lee
authors: Yueh-Fu
authors: YF
authors: Fang
authors: Meng-Heng
authors: MH
authors: Shieh
authors: Shu-Min
authors: SM
authors: Lin
authors: Chih-Teng
authors: CT
authors: Yu
authors: Yun-Lun
authors: YL
authors: Lo
authors: Ting-Yu
authors: TY
authors: Lin
authors: Chih-Hsi
authors: CH
authors: Kuo
authors: Po-Hao
authors: PH
authors: Feng
authors: Yung-Lun
authors: YL
authors: Ni
authors: Han-Pin
authors: HP
authors: Kuo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005971:Glutamates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005971:Glutamates; D043823:Taxoids; D000068437:Pemetrexed; D000077143:Docetaxel; D006147:Guanine