Unresectable Advanced Esophageal Cancer Responded to Docetaxel/nedaplatin/5-fluorouracil Therapy: A Case Report

Abstract

A 73-year-old male patient presented with unresectable advanced esophageal cancer and metastases in the left axillary, the thoracic and the paraaortic lymph nodes, which were treated with docetaxel/nedaplatin (CDGP)/5-fluorouracil (5-FU) therapy. CDGP was administered in multiple divided doses, because the patient exhibited decreased renal function. One cycle of chemotherapy consisted of CDGP (20 mg/body/day) and 5-FU (750 mg/body/day) from days 1 to 5, docetaxel (60 mg/body) on day 1, followed by a three-week interval. The patient underwent four cycles of chemotherapy. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed after the completion of the third cycle, when the patient exhibited no evidence of a primary tumor, and no cancer cells were detected via biopsy. The efficacy of the chemotherapy was maintained after the fourth cycle, indicating a complete response(CR). Computed tomography was performed after the first cycle and showed a reduction of the primary tumor(CR) and lymph node metastases. After the fourth cycle, enlarged lymph nodes were remarkably reduced, which was assessed as a partial response(PR). The reported adverse events were Grade 1 pyrexia, Grade 3 diarrhea and Grade 2 leukopenia. Therefore, docetaxel/CDGP/5-FU therapy is a promising regimen for advanced esophageal cancer in association with a lower incidence of nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity.