[Phase II study of paclitaxel and cisplatin for advanced squamous-cell carcinoma of esophagus].
OBJECTIVE
Paclitaxel was used in a phase II trial in combination with cisplatin for esophageal cancer. The anti-tumor response, toxicity and survival of the treated patients were evaluated.


METHODS
Thirty patients with advanced, unresectable, or complicated with metastasis were allotted, twenty-seven patients had no prior chemotherapy while 3 patients had received adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients were given paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) by 3-hour infusion on D1, and cisplatin 40 mg/m(2) daily on D2 and D3. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was not routinely administered unless the patient had neutropenia. Treatment was recycled every 21 days.


RESULTS
Thirty patients (male/female, 28/2; median age 58) completed a median of 3 cycles and 27 patients were evaluable for response. Major objective responses were observed in 16 patients (59.3%; 95% confidence interval, 38.9% to 75.5%), including 5 complete responses (18.5%) and 11 partial responses (40.7%). The median time to tumor progression was 5.0 months (range, 1 to 23 months). The median actuarial survival was 9.7 months (range, 1 to 23 months). Twenty-eight patients were assessable for toxicity. The most common nonhematologic toxicity was alopecia. Grade 3 to 4 neutropenia was observed in 17.9% of the patients. Toxicity was manageable with dose attenuation and G-CSF support.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of paclitaxel and cisplatin can be considered as a main regimen in the treatment of advanced esophageal cancer.
Huang
Jing
J
Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Institute (Hospital), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, P.R. China.
Cai
Rui-gang
RG
Meng
Ping-jun
PJ
Zhang
Ming-juan
MJ
Cui
Chen-xu
CX
Yang
Lin
L
Chu
Da-tong
DT
Sun
Yan
Y
Wang
Jin-wan
JW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate
D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin