title: Retrospective study of gemcitabine based chemotherapy for unresectable or recurrent esophagus squamous cell carcinoma refractory to first line chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy and toxicity of a combination of gemcitabine with nedaplatin (GN) or cisplatin (GC) for patients with unresectable or recurrent esophagus squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gemcitabine was administered at 1 g/m2 intravenously on days 1 and 8; and nedaplatin or cisplatin were administered at 80 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1. We analyzed the response rate, overall survival time, progression-free survival time, and toxicity in 21 patients treated with GN and 27 patients treated with GC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients treated with gemcitabine plus nedaplatin, the ORR was 47.6%, the median progression-free survival time was 4.1 months, and the median survival time was 9.3 months. In patients treated with gemcitabine plus cisplatin, the ORR was 48.2%, the median progression-free survival time was 3.9 months, and the median survival time was 9.1 months, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in ORR, PFS and OS between the two groups. In both, the most commonly observed toxicities were thrombocytopenia and fatigue. Nausea and vomiting was more frequent in the GC group than in the GN group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gemcitabine based chemotherapy was effective and tolerable for patients with unresectable or recurrent esophagus squamous cell carcinoma refractory to first line chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Department, Changhai hospital, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Hai-Xing
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Mei-Hong
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yong-Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ya-Jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D003841:Deoxycytidine; C053989:nedaplatin; D002945:Cisplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine