Phase II trial of docetaxel-irinotecan combination in advanced esophageal cancer.
BACKGROUND
Preclinical evidence suggests synergy between docetaxel and irinotecan, two drugs active in esophagogastric cancer. We previously demonstrated the safety of docetaxel 35 mg/m2 and irinotecan 50 mg/m2 given on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day schedule.


METHODS
Patients who had unresectable/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, measurable disease, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of zero to two, and normal bilirubin were eligible. Tumor assessment was carried out every three cycles.


RESULTS
We enrolled 29 chemotherapy-naive (CN) and 15 chemotherapy-exposed (CE) eligible patients. Principal toxic effects were diarrhea, neutropenia, and hyperglycemia. There were no toxic deaths. There was one early death, from myocardial infarction. Among 26 CN and assessable patients, there were seven (26.9%) with a partial response (PR) and one (3.8%) with a complete response (CR). There were two PRs and one CR among the patients with CE disease. Median time to progression for CN patients was 4.0 months and for CE patients 3.5 months. Median survival for CN eligible patients was 9.0 months and for CE patients 11.4 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Docetaxel-irinotecan combination given on a weekly x 2 of 3 schedule is promising in the treatment of advanced esophageal cancer.
Division of Medical Sciences, Department of Medical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA. barbara.burtness@fccc.edu
B
B
Burtness
M
M
Gibson
B
B
Egleston
R
R
Mehra
L
L
Thomas
R
R
Sipples
M
M
Quintanilla
J
J
Lacy
S
S
Watkins
J R
JR
Murren
A A
AA
Forastiere
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; 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* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin