[Evaluation of docetaxel, CDDP and 5-FU combined therapy as second-line chemotherapy for esophagus cancer].

The combined therapy of docetaxel (70 mg/m(2), day 1), CDDP (80 mg/m(2), day 1) and 5-FU (800 mg/m(2), day 1-5) is used as second-line chemotherapy for esophagus cancer. First-line chemotherapy for 32 advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus is not effective, and early recurrences after chemotherapy were examined. Pretreatment surgery was used in 20 cases,radiation therapy in 19 and chemotherapy by 3.1 courses (1-9) on average. PR was found in 16 patients (response rate 50%) in the first course, MR in 2, NC in 6, and PD in 7 cases. Among 16 patients,one was discontinued due to aspiration pneumonia and two by leukopenia. Thirteen patients received 3-5 courses. The operation was continuously enforced in three patients among 13, radiation therapy was added in three, and they survived for one year or more. Five for whom imaging became virtually impossible lived for six months or more. Additional treatment proved ineffective in 2, so it was discontinued. There were 18 lymph node examples of lesions effectively treated, 6 main lesions, 1 pulmonary metastasis and 1 bone metastasis. As for deleterious events, leukopenia was admitted in 95%. G-CSF was needed by 68% during use and 3 days on average. The CDDP+5-FU+docetaxel therapy was comparatively safe in patients with much pre-treatment and demonstrated a maximum effect at more than the expected rate.