title: Phase II trial of irinotecan plus docetaxel in cisplatin-pretreated relapsed or refractory oesophageal cancer.
abstract: This phase II trial assessed the toxicity and efficacy of irinotecan plus docetaxel in cisplatin-pretreated oesophageal cancer. Irinotecan 160 mg m(-2) plus docetaxel 65 mg m(-2) once every 3 weeks led to severe myelosuppression in four patients, all of whom experienced neutropenic fever. After amendment of this regimen, 24 patients (male/female=18/6; median age=58.5 years; ECOG performance status 0/1/2=9/11/4) with advanced oesophageal cancer (adenocarcinoma/epidermoid carcinoma=13/11) received irinotecan 55 mg m(-2) plus docetaxel 25 mg m(-2) on days 1, 8 and 15 of a 28-day cycle. Serious adverse events occurred in five patients, one with lethal outcome (pneumonia). Haematological toxicity >or=3 degrees was rare, whereas nonhaematological toxicity >or=3 degrees was noted in nine out of 24 patients (asthenia in five patients, diarrhoea in three patients, nausea/emesis in two patients, constipation in one patient). Median survival time was 26 (range 2-70) weeks. Response rate, assessed according to the WHO criteria, was 12.5% (95% CI 2.7-32.4%); rate of disease stabilisation (partial remission and stable disease) was 33.3% (95% CI 15.6-55.3%) with a median duration of 18.5 (range 16-51) weeks. Although the nonhaematological toxicity proved to be considerable, weekly irinotecan plus docetaxel is feasible and shows some activity in extensively pretreated patients with oesophageal cancer.
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Internal Medicine (Haematology/Medical Oncology), Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str 22, D-81675 Munich, Germany. f.lordick@!lrz.tum.de
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lordick
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Schilling
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bernhard
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hennig
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bredenkamp
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peschel
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D043823:Taxoids; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D000077146:Irinotecan; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin; D002166:Camptothecin