title: Triple induction chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer. A phase II study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This phase II trial assessed the feasibility and safety of induction chemotherapy with cisplatin (25 mg/m(2) d1-5, d29-34)/docetaxel (75 mg/m(2) d1, d29)/5-fluorouracil (5-FU, 750 mg/m(2) d1-5, d 29-34) followed by external beam radiotherapy concurrent with docetaxel (15 mg/m(2) d1,8,15,22) and 5-FU (300 mg/m(2) continuous infusion on the days of radiotherapy).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients with locally advanced carcinoma of the esophagus were included. Following chemotherapy and chemoradiation eligible patients underwent esophagectomy. If surgery could not be performed patients received definitive radiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen patients underwent resection. Pathologic complete remission was achieved in 5 of those 16 patients, 13 patients had downstaging of disease. R0 resection was feasible in all 16 patients. Main grade 3 and 4 toxicities were neutropenia in 10 patients, diarrhea in 4 and postoperative morbidity in 9 patients. At a median follow-up of 16.5 months 15 patients are alive; median survival has not yet been reached.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neoadjuvant treatment with cisplatin/docetaxel/5-fluorouracil followed by chemoradiation with docetaxel/5-fluorouracil is safe, feasible, and effective.
authors.affiliation: Innsbruck Medical University, Department of Internal Medicine I, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. wolfgang.eisterer@i-med.ac.at
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Eisterer
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: DE Vries
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kendler
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spechtenhauser
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Königsrainer
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nehoda
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Virgolini
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lukas
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bechter
authors.forename: Ewald
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wöll
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ofner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000379:methods; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012074:Remission Induction; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil