title: A retrospective study of docetaxel or paclitaxel in patients with advanced or recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who previously received fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-based chemotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fluoropyrimidine plus platinum (FP)-based chemotherapy has been widely used as a first-line regimen for advanced or recurrent esophageal cancer, and taxanes have shown efficacy after FP-based chemotherapy, but there is no standard regimen for second-line chemotherapy (SLC). We retrospectively investigated the clinical features of taxane therapy in SLC for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The selection criteria were pathologically proven ESCC; advanced or recurrent disease previously treated with FP at our hospital; performance status (PS) 0-2; and adequate organ function. Docetaxel (DTX) was administered 3-weekly at 70 mg/m(2). Paclitaxel (PTX) was administered at 100 mg/m(2) weekly for 6 weeks, with 1 week's rest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis covered 163 patients from August 2006 to June 2012. Median age was 64 years (range 37-83: DTX group 132 patients and PTX group 31). Progression-free survival and median overall survival (OS) were 2.3 and 6.1 months, respectively, with PTX and 2.3 and 5.3 months with DTX. Response rates were 20.7 % for PTX and 5.9 % for DTX. The rate of grades 3-4 neutropenia was higher with DTX (32.6 %) than with PTX (16.1 %). Grade 3 febrile neutropenia was seen in 6.1 % of DTX recipients but in no PTX group. According to multivariate analyses of OS, PS 2, number of metastatic sites ≧2, and CRP ≧1 mg/dL were independent predictors of poor prognosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PTX and DTX were both effective in SLC for ESCC, but their toxicity profiles differed. In terms of febrile neutropenia, PTX seems more appropriate.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan, twriver1979@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shirakawa
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Kengo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagashima
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: Ryoichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shoji
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Honma
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwasa
authors.forename: Atsuo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takashima
authors.forename: Natsuko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okita
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamaguchi
authors.forename: Yasuhide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010984:Platinum / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D043823:Taxoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D011743:Pyrimidines; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D010984:Platinum; D017239:Paclitaxel