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J Cancer 2016; 7(9):1066-1073. doi:10.7150/jca.13547 This issue Cite

Research Paper

A Retrospective Comparison of Taxane and Fluorouracil-based Chemoradiotherapy in Patients with Inoperable Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Xiaojiang Sun^1#, Shuiyun Han^1#, Feiying Gu^1#, Gang Lin¹, Zhun Wang¹, Yuezhen Wang¹, Yaping Xu^1,2✉

1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou China;
2. Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou 310022, China.
^# All authors contributed equally to this work.

✉ Corresponding author: Yaping Xu, MD, 1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou China; 2. Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou 310022, China, 38 Guangji Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, P.R. China; Telephone: +8613857101269; Fax: +86057188368079; Email: xuyporg.cn More

Abstract

Purpose: To retrospectively compare taxane-based with fluorouracil-based chemoradiotherapy in terms of toxicity profiles, efficacy and survival in patients with inoperable esophageal cancer.

Methods and Materials: We analyzed retrospectively 179 consecutive patients who were unresectable or medically unfit for surgery between March 2009 and November 2014. Eight-three patients were included in the taxane group and 96 cases were in the fluorouracil group.

Results: The overall response rate (ORR) in the taxane group was higher than fluorouracil group, but was not significantly different (71.6% vs. 63.5%, respectively, P=0.255). In total, 53.0% (44/83) of the patients in the taxane group had progressive disease versus 54.2% (52/96) in the fluorouracil group (not significantly different (P=0.758)). There was no significant difference in overall response rate, progression free survival and overall survival, as well as treatment-related death. In terms of non-hematological toxicity, patients in the taxane group experienced a lower incidence of ≥ grade 3 esophageal perforation or fistula (4.8% vs. 13.5%, P=0.047) and pneumonia (4.8% vs. 9.7%, P=0.242). Regarding hematological toxicity, thrombocytopenia in the taxane group was significantly lower (4.8% vs. 13.5%, P=0.047), but there was a trend towards a higher rate of ≥ grade 3 leukopenia (34.9% vs.26.0%, P=0.196).

Conclusions: Chemoradiation with taxane-based regimens is well tolerated, with potentially promising efficacy, and could become a good alternative treatment in a first line setting for patients with inoperable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Keywords: esophageal cancer, chemoradiotherapy, taxane, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

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