Original Article · Originalarbeit

Docetaxel and Cisplatin as First-Line Treatment for Patients with Metastatic Esophageal Cancer: A Pilot Study
E. Laack^a; B. Andritzky^a; H. Dürk^b; I. Burkholder^c; L. Edler^c; G. Schuch^a; I. Boeters^a; M. Görn^a; R. Lipp^d; H. Horst^d; J. Popp^a; D.K. Hossfeld^a

^aMedizinische Klinik II (Onkologie und Hämatologie), Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, ^bAbteilung für Onkologie und Hämatologie, Marien-Hospital, Hamm, ^cBiostatistik, Deutsches Krebsforschungsinstitut Heidelberg, ^dOnkologische Schwerpunktpraxis Lerchenfeld, Hamburg, Germany

Onkologie 2005;28:647-650
(DOI: 10.1159/000089102)

  Summary

Background: We investigated the combination of docetaxel and cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic esophageal cancer. Patients and Methods: 16 chemotherapy-naïve patients with distant metastases were included in the study (15 male, 1 female; median age: 58.5 years (range 37-69); median ECOG performance status: 1). 11 patients (69%) had esophageal cancer, and 5 patients (31%) had cancer of the gastroesophageal junction. Patients received docetaxel 75 mg/m2 and cisplatin 80 mg/m2 on day 1 every 3 weeks. A total of 55 chemotherapy cycles was administered. The median number of cycles was 3 (range 1-6). Results: The overall response rate was 31.3%. 4 out of 10 patients (40%) with squamous cell carcinoma and 1 out of 5 patients (20%) with adenocarcinoma responded to chemotherapy. The median overall survival was 29.6 weeks, and the median progression-free survival was 18.6 weeks. Hematological and non-hematological toxicities were moderate (neutropenia WHO grade III/IV: 42.9%, alopecia grade II/III: 64.3%, nausea/vomiting grade II/III: 57.2%, neurotoxicity grade II: 14.3%). Conclusion: The combination of docetaxel and cisplatin is an active regimen with moderate toxicity in the treatment of patients with metastatic esophageal cancer. This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of a combination treatment containing a taxane and cisplatin in metastatic esophageal cancer.

Copyright © 2005 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg