Retrospective analysis of 27 consecutive patients treated with docetaxel/nedaplatin combination therapy as a second-line regimen for advanced esophageal cancer

• Published in: International journal of clinical oncology 2007-06, Vol.12 (3), p.224-227
• Main Authors: Kanai, Masashi, Matsumoto, Shigemi, Nishimura, Takahumi, Shimada, Yutaka, Watanabe, Go, Kitano, Toshiyuki, Misawa, Akiko, Ishiguro, Hiroshi, Yoshikawa, Kiyotsugu, Yanagihara, Kazuhiro, Teramukai, Satoshi, Mitsumori, Michihide, Chiba, Tsutomu, Sakai, Yoshiharu, Fukushima, Masanori
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Chemotherapy; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Esophageal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Esophagus; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Oncology; Organoplatinum Compounds - administration & dosage; Pharmacology; Retrospective Studies; Salvage Therapy; Survival Analysis; Taxoids - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 1341-9625; 1437-7772
• DOI: 10.1007/s10147-007-0666-x

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with docetaxel and nedaplatin in advanced esophageal cancer as a second-line regimen in an outpatient setting. Twenty-seven consecutive patients with advanced esophageal cancer who received docetaxel/nedaplatin combination therapy as a second-line regimen were retrospectively evaluated. The combination therapy consisted of intravenous administration of docetaxel 30 mg/m(2) and nedaplatin 40 mg/m(2) every 2 weeks. The patients received a median of 7.4 cycles of treatment (range, 2-25 cycles ). No complete response was observed, and 3 of the 27 patients (11%) achieved partial responses. The disease control rate (partial response + stable disease) was 52%. The median survival time (MST) was 11.4 months. Severe hematological adverse events (grade 3-4) were: neutropenia (n = 10; 37%) and anemia (n = 5; 19%); there was neither febrile neutropenia nor grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia. Furthermore, no severe nonhematological adverse events or treatment-related deaths were observed. Combination therapy of docetaxel with nedaplatin was safe and well tolerated; however, the development of more effective therapy is warranted to improve the prognosis of esophageal cancer.