title: Phase II study of docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (DCF) for metastatic esophageal cancer (OGSG 0403).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of this multiple-institution phase II study were to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (DCF) for the therapy of patients with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCCE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible patients included those with previously untreated SCCE, score of ECOG 0-2 and adequate organ function. Patients received 60 mg/m(2) docetaxel and 70 mg/m(2) cisplatin on day 1, and 600 mg/m(2) 5-fluorouracil on days 1-5 every four weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-nine (22 male, 7 female) patients with metastatic SCCE (M1a: 20, M1b: 9) were enrolled. Three cases achieved complete response and seven a partial response. In addition to these patients, three patients achieved good response and underwent surgical resection, giving an overall response rate of 34.5% (95% Confidene Interval=17.9-54.3) in confirmed cases and 44.8% (95% CI=26.4-64.3) in unconfirmed cases. Grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicities were as follows: leukopenia in 15 patients (52%), neutropenia in 22 patients (76%) and febrile neutropenia in 6 patients (21%), while grade 3 or 4 non-hematological toxicities were relatively rare.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This DCF regimen was well tolerated; the results of this study provide information on the potential of DCF for treatment of patients with metastatic SCCE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kansai Rosai Hospital, Hyogo, Japan. stamura@kanrou.net
authors.forename: Shigeyuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Motohiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imano
authors.forename: Hiroya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takiuchi
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Haruhiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imamoto
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: Ying-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Toshimasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsujinaka
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Furukawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil