Evaluation of combined docetaxel and nedaplatin chemotherapy for recurrent esophageal cancer compared with conventional chemotherapy using cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil: a retrospective study

This retrospective study evaluated the safety and efficacy of combination chemotherapy using docetaxel and nedaplatin in an outpatient setting compared with those of chemotherapy using cisplatin (CDDP) and 5-Fu under hospitalization. Subjects comprised 21 patients who had been diagnosed with recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), with 10 patients receiving combination chemotherapy comprising CDDP and 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) under hospitalization (FP group; n = 10), and 11 patients receiving combination chemotherapy comprising docetaxel and nedaplatin in an outpatient setting (Doc/Ned group; n = 11). In the Doc/Ned group, patients received 30 mg/m(2) of docetaxel over a 1-h infusion on day 1, followed by 40 mg/m(2) of nedaplatin over a 2-h infusion on day 1 in an outpatient setting. In the Doc/Ned group, complete response was observed in two patients (18.1%), one with liver metastasis and one with abdominal lymph node metastasis, and two (18.1%) achieved partial response. In contrast, no complete responses were obtained in the FP group, and partial response was observed in only one patient (10.0%) with local recurrence. Response rates were thus 36.3% for the Doc/Ned group and 10.0% for the FP group. With a median follow-up of 234 days in the Doc/Ned group and 279 days in the FP group, median survival time (MST) was 234 days in the Doc/Ned group and 378 days in the FP group. No significant differences in MST were identified between groups. Thus regimen based on docetaxel and nedaplatin allows administration on an outpatient basis and appears feasible for recurrent ESCC as a second-line chemotherapy.