Background: The aims of this multiple-institution phase II study were to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (DCF) for the therapy of patients with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCCE).
Patients and methods: Eligible patients included those with previously untreated SCCE, score of ECOG 0-2 and adequate organ function. Patients received 60 mg/m(2) docetaxel and 70 mg/m(2) cisplatin on day 1, and 600 mg/m(2) 5-fluorouracil on days 1-5 every four weeks.
Results: Twenty-nine (22 male, 7 female) patients with metastatic SCCE (M1a: 20, M1b: 9) were enrolled. Three cases achieved complete response and seven a partial response. In addition to these patients, three patients achieved good response and underwent surgical resection, giving an overall response rate of 34.5% (95% Confidene Interval=17.9-54.3) in confirmed cases and 44.8% (95% CI=26.4-64.3) in unconfirmed cases. Grade 3 or 4 hematological toxicities were as follows: leukopenia in 15 patients (52%), neutropenia in 22 patients (76%) and febrile neutropenia in 6 patients (21%), while grade 3 or 4 non-hematological toxicities were relatively rare.
Conclusion: This DCF regimen was well tolerated; the results of this study provide information on the potential of DCF for treatment of patients with metastatic SCCE.