title: Bi-weekly chemotherapy of paclitaxel and cisplatin in patients with metastatic or recurrent esophageal cancer.
abstract: Although various combinations of chemotherapy regimens have been tried for patients with esophageal cancer, their duration of survival is extremely poor. In this study, we investigated the safety and clinical efficacy of paclitaxel and cisplatin chemotherapy in metastatic or recurrent esophageal cancer. 32 patients enrolled in this study and the median age was 60 yr. Of all the 32, 28 patients (88%) had been treated previously, 22 of them with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. All patients in the study received biweekly paclitaxel (90 mg/m(2)) followed by cisplatin (50 mg/m(2)). One patient (3%) responded completely, and 12 patients (38%) showed a partial response; in 9 patients (28%) the disease remained stable, and in 10 patients (31%) it progressed. The objective response rate was 41%. The median duration of response was 4.8 months, and the median overall survival in all patients was 7 months. The 1-yr and 2-yr survival rates were 28.1% and 7.1%, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 of neutropenia and anemia were observed in 6 (19%) and 5 (16%) patients, respectively. The major non-hematologic toxicity was fatigue, but most of them could manageable. In conclusion, biweekly paclitaxel and cisplatin is effective in patients with metastatic or recurrent esophageal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Ik-Joo
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Sang-Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Deok-Hwan
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jeong-Rae
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Yeo-Kyeoung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Je-Jung
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kook-Joo
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Hyeoung-Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin