title: Intermediate-dose methotrexate and cisplatin in the treatment of advanced epidermoid esophageal carcinoma. Response rate and disease-free survival.
abstract: Seventeen patients with inoperable locoregional disease (epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus) were treated only with two courses of intermediate-dose methotrexate (200 mg/m2 on day 1) and cisplatin (20 mg/m2/d for 5 days). According to the response criteria, 14 (82.4%) achieved a good response (GR) and 3 (17.6%) showed no response (NR). The median recurrence-free survival time was 5 months (range, 2 to 16 months) in seven patients with regular follow-up. Three patients are still alive and disease-free at 37+, 44+, and 51+ months. No patient received radiotherapy or surgery after chemotherapy until recurrence. This combination schedule appears to be effective in advanced esophageal carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Bombay, India.
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Saikia
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Advani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramakrishnan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Swaroop
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Desai
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D008727:Methotrexate