Second-line combination chemotherapy with docetaxel for cisplatin-pretreated refractory metastatic esophageal cancer: a preliminary report of initial experience.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:

Patients with esophageal cancer often develop metastatic disease after esophageal resection and generally receive cisplatin-based chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. The efficacy and toxicity of the combination of docetaxel, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin (DFC) as a second-line chemotherapy were evaluated in patients with postoperative metastatic esophageal cancer refractory to cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Twenty patients with metastatic esophageal cancer after esophagectomy refractory to cisplatin-based therapy were included in this study. The DFC regimen consisted of docetaxel (60 mg/m(2)) on day 1, 5-FU (500 mg/day) on days 1-5 and cisplatin (10 mg/day) on days 1-5, being repeated every 3 weeks.

RESULTS:

A total of 49 cycles (median 2, range 1-6) was administered to 20 patients. The median follow-up was 8 months (range 3-24). Of the 20 patients, 1 had a complete response, 6 had a partial response, 6 had stable and 7 had progressive disease. Median time to progression for all patients was 4 months (95% Cl 1.7-5.6). The median overall survival for all patients was 8 months (95% CI 5.7-10.3). The major toxicity was myelosuppression. Neutropenia of grade 3 or more occurred in 13 patients (65%), and thrombocytopenia of grade 3 occurred in 1 patient (5%). Febrile neutropenia was observed in 1 patient (5%). There was no treatment-related mortality.

CONCLUSION:

DFC is a feasible and promising regimen as a second-line therapy in metastatic/recurrent esophageal cancer refractory to cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

• Authors: Toshiaki Tanaka, Hiromasa Fujita, Susumu Sueyoshi, Yuichi Tanaka, Hiroko Sasahara, Naoki Mori, Tsuyoshi Nagano, Hideaki Yamana, Kazuo Shirouzu
• Journal: Chemotherapy (Chemotherapy) Vol. 53 Issue 6 Pg. 449-53 ( 2007) ISSN: 1421-9794 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 17952006 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• Taxoids
• Docetaxel
• Cisplatin
• Fluorouracil

Topics

• Adrenal Gland Neoplasms (drug therapy, secondary)
• Aged
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Bone Neoplasms (drug therapy, secondary)
• Cisplatin (administration & dosage)
• Docetaxel
• Esophageal Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology, surgery)
• Feasibility Studies
• Female
• Fluorouracil (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (drug therapy, secondary)
• Lymphatic Metastasis (pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (drug therapy, pathology)
• Salvage Therapy
• Survival Rate
• Taxoids (administration & dosage)
• Treatment Outcome