We report a case of far-advanced
esophageal cancer in which
induction chemotherapy followed by
chemoradiotherapy achieved complete remission. A 61-year-old female presented to our hospital with
dyspnea and
hoarseness. CT revealed a
tumor at the cervical esophagus invading and narrowing the trachea, a bulky
metastasis at the right paraesophageal node, and nodal
metastases at levels II and III of the left neck. No finding indicated other distant
metastases. According to findings of CT and endoscopy, she was diagnosed with unresectable
cancer at the cervical esophagus(cT4bN1M1[LYM], according to UICC-TNM 7 th). After 2 courses of
induction chemotherapy(DTX, CDDP, and 5-FU), the
tumor's volume was remarkably reduced. Thereafter,
chemoradiotherapy with CDDP,
5-FU, and 60 Gy/30 Fr was administered. After 7 months of systemic
chemotherapy with
paclitaxel following
chemoradiotherapy, the patient was judged to have complete remission based on CT and endoscopic findings. After additional administration of S-1 for 5 months, systemic
chemotherapy was ceased. The patient has survived without
disease progression for 22 months following initiation of treatment. It is thought that
induction chemotherapy followed by
chemoradiotherapy might improve local control and survival of patients with far-advanced
esophageal cancers, such as our patient.