title: Docetaxel and cisplatin as first-line treatment for patients with metastatic esophageal cancer: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the combination of docetaxel and cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic esophageal cancer.
  
  
  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%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik II (Onkologie und Hämatologie), Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. laack@uke.uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: Eckart
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Laack
authors.forename: Birte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andritzky
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dürk
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Burkholder
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edler
authors.forename: Gunter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schuch
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Boeters
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Görn
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lipp
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Horst
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Popp
authors.forename: Dieter K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Hossfeld
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D002945:Cisplatin