Second-Line Combination Chemotherapy with Docetaxel and Nedaplatin for Cisplatin-Pretreated Refractory Metastatic/Recurrent Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: There is in urgent need for ail effective second-line chemotherapy regimen after failure of the standard cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil therapy. Patients and Methods: This study investigated the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of docetaxel (30 mg/m(2)) during a I-hour infusion, followed by nedaplatin (50 mg/m(2)) during a 2-hour infusion (both drugs were administered on day I as an Outpatient regimen and repeated every 2 weeks) as second-line chemotherapy for patients with cisplatin-pretreated refractory metastatic/recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after Surgery. Results: Forty-six of the 48 patients (95.8%) were assessable for response. Partial response was confirmed in 13 of 48 cases yielding a response rate of 27.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.5-39.7%). The median overall time to progression and overall survival was 3.1 months (95% Cl, 2.3-3.9 months) and 5.9 months (95%, Cl, 3.9-7.8 months), respectively. The estimate of overall survival at 12 months was 16.7% (95% Cl, 6.1-27.2%). Grade 3 anemia leucopenia, grade 4 anemia leucopenia and neutropenia were detected in only 4 (8.7%), 8 (17.4%), and 9 patients (19.6%), respectively. Conclusions: The combination chemotherapy of docetaxel and nedaplatin in the Outpatient setting is well tolerated and useful as second-line chemotherapy for cisplatin-pretreated refractory metastatic/recurrent esophageal squamous Cell carcinoma.OncologyRespiratory SystemSCI(E)18ARTICLE81017-1021