Background/aim: We compared the outcome of docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil as combination chemoradiotherapy (DCF-RT) for unresectable locally advanced thoracic esophageal cancer (EC) with that of cisplatin (CDDP) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as combination chemoradiotherapy (CF-RT) in clinical settings.
Patients and methods: Seventy-three patients with unresectable locally advanced thoracic EC were included in this study. CF (n=38) consisted of intravenous CDDP at 70 mg/m2 (day 1) and 5-FU at 700 mg/m2 (days 1 to 4), repeated every four weeks for two cycles. DCF (n=35) consisted of intravenous docetaxel at 50 mg/m2 (day 1), CDDP at 60 mg/m2 (day 1), and 5-FU at 600 mg/m2 (days 1 to 4), repeated every four weeks for two cycles. Patients were irradiated with 60 Gy in 30 fractions.
Results: The overall complete response (CR) rate of DCF-RT was significantly higher than that of CF-RT (36.7% vs. 3.7%, p=0.003). The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate of DCF-RT was significantly higher than that of CF-RT (32.8% vs. 8.5%, p<0.001).
Conclusion: DCF-RT demonstrated a higher CR rate and OS for unresectable locally advanced thoracic EC than CF-RT.
Keywords: Esophageal cancer; chemoradiotherapy; overall survival.
Copyright © 2021 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.