Carboplatin: a new platinum analog in the treatment of epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus.

Thirty-one patients with advanced epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus were treated with carboplatin (CBDCA), a second-generation cisplatin analog. Thirty patients were evaluable for response. Major responses (complete response) were seen in two patients (7%; 95% confidence limits, 1%-20%). The median survival from initiation of the protocol was 3 months (range, 0.1-16). Neither renal dysfunction nor emesis was a significant problem with CBDCA; hematologic toxicity was dose-limiting. Thrombocytopenia was more marked than leukopenia. CBDCA is a well-tolerated cisplatin analog that produced two complete responses in patients with advanced epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus, where such responses are rarely observed. Although the observed response rate was only 7%, the 95% confidence limits overlap those previously reported for cisplatin (12%-31%).