Abstract
Objective: Locally advanced (LA) esophagus squamous cell cancer (ESCC) is an aggressive tumor. Multimodal treatment options
are being explored for ESCC. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of docetaxel plus 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin (DCF) chemotherapy
in LA ESCC. Material and Methods: Thirty-six patients with LA ESCC treated with DCF combination chemotherapy were
retrospectively analyzed. Patients had received the DCF dosing scheme, involving docetaxel and cisplatin 75 mg/m2 on day 1 and fluorouracil
750 mg/m2 day on days 1-5, and this was repeated every three weeks. Results: The most common tumor location was the cervical esophagus
(61%). T4 disease and lymph node involvement were observed in 56% and 84% of patients, respectively. After the neoadjuvant DCF application,
most of the patients were treated with curative chemoradiotherapy (79%) and the remaining were operated on (17%). Clinical and objective
response rates with neoadjuvant DCF applications were 75% and 59%, respectively. The median overall survival and progression-free
survival was 37 (95% CI: 5-68) and 14 (95% CI: 6- 20) months, respectively. The 1- and 2-year survival rates were 70% and 50%, respectively.
Treatment-related deaths were not observed. Grade 3-4 anemia (n=4, 11%), neutropenia (n=5, 14%), and thrombocytopenia (n=2, 5%)
were the most common hematological toxicities in patients who were treated with classic DCF. Conclusion: Neoadjuvant DCF is a preferable
combination of chemotherapy for young and fits LA ESCC patients.
Keywords:
Esophageal squamous cell cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, taxane
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