title: A retrospective comparison of docetaxel and paclitaxel for patients with advanced or recurrent esophageal cancer who previously received platinum-based chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To retrospectively compare docetaxel (DTX) with paclitaxel (PTX) with regard to efficacy and safety in advanced or recurrent esophageal cancer patients who previously received platinum-based chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed 124 advanced or recurrent esophageal cancer patients who had received platinum-based chemotherapy and then received DTX or PTX from April 2006 to November 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-six patients (69.4%) received DTX and 38 patients (30.6%) received PTX monotherapy. Due to toxicity, dose reduction was needed in 36.0 and 27.8% of patients and treatment was discontinued in 10.5 and 2.6% of patients receiving DTX and PTX, respectively. The objective response (25.7 vs. 10.3%, p = 0.03) and disease control rates (60.0 vs. 34.6%, p = 0.01) were higher in the PTX group than in the DTX group, respectively. There were no significant differences in median progression-free survival (2.1 vs. 3.5 months) and overall survival (6.1 vs. 7.2 months) between the DTX and PTX groups, respectively. Grade 3-4 neutropenia (48.8 vs. 21.1%, p = 0.003) and febrile neutropenia (20.9 vs. 5.3%, p = 0.029) were more frequent in the DTX patients than in the PTX patients, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the efficacy of DTX and PTX for advanced or recurrent esophageal cancer patients after platinum-based chemotherapy was not significantly different in terms of survival, PTX was a more feasible treatment. PTX provided similar efficacy to DTX with less febrile neutropenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mizota
authors.forename: Kohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shitara
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Motoo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Tomoya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokota
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Takahari
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ura
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D043823:Taxoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel