A retrospective comparison study of docetaxel and paclitaxel for patients with advanced or recurrent esophageal cancer who previously received fluoropyrimidine and platinum-based chemotherapy.

Abstract

112 Background: Fluoropyrimidine plus platinum (FP)-based chemotherapy has been widely used as a first-line regimen for advanced or recurrent esophageal cancer (EC). Although the taxanes have shown efficacy in esophageal cancer after FP-based chemotherapy, there is no standard regimen for second-line chemotherapy (SLC). We conducted a retrospective study to investigate the clinical features of taxane therapy in SLC of EC. Methods: The selection criteria were pathologically proven EC; advanced or recurrent disease that had previously been treated with FP at our hospital; performance status 0-2; and adequate organ functions. The FP regimens used included 5-FU or S-1 and cisplatin or nedaplatin. Docetaxel (DTX) was administerd at 70mg/m2 triweekly for 6 weeks with 1 week’s rest. Paclitaxel (PTX) was administered at 100mg/m2 weekly with the same schedule. Overall survival of PTX was compared to DTX with baseline prognostic factors adjusted, using Cox proportional hazard model. Results: The analysis covered 110 patients over the period from August 2006 to June 2012. The median age was 64 years (range 39-83); 97 males and 13 females; 108 squamous cell carcinomas and 2 adenocarcinomas; 34 advanced and 76 recurrent; cStage I/II/III/IV at diagnosis 8/21/49/32; PS 0/1/2 score 20/81/9; DTX treatment 82 patients and PTX treatment 28. Progression-free survival and overall survival were 2.3 & 6.1 months with PTX and 2.8 and 6.9 months with DTX (no significant difference). The response rates were PTX/DTX/Total 11.1%/3.7%/5.5%. Hazard ratio of overall survival between DTX and PTX was 1.054 with adjusted by PS, sex and number of metastasis. The rate of grade 3-4 neutropenia was higher with DTX (28%) than with PTX (7%). Grade 3 febrile neutropenia was seen in 3.7% of DTX-treated patients but in no PTX patients. Grade 2 or more fatigue was seen in 16% of DTX patients and 10% of PTX ones, and grade 2 or more neuropathy was seen in 1.2% of DTX patients and 32% of PTX ones. Conclusions: PTX and DTX were both effective in SLC of EC, but the toxicity profiles of the two regimens differed. In terms of febrile neutropenia or fatigue, PTX seems more appropriate for SLC of EC.