Clinical observation of paclitaxel plus cisplatin and nedaplatin plus 5-fluorouracil in treatment of advanced esophageal carcinoma

Objective:To evaluate the response and toxicity of paclitaxel(PTX)plus cisplatin(DDP)and nedaplatin(NDP)plus 5-fluorouracil(5-FU)for the patients with advanced esophageal carcinoma.Methods:Forty-eight patients with advanced esophageal carcinoma were divided randomly into two groups.TP group composed of 23 cases were treated with PTX plus DDP,and NF group including 25 cases were treated with NDP plus 5-FU.Patients in TP group were given PTX 135-175mg/m2 by 3-hour infusion on d_1 and DDP 20mg/m2 d_1-5.Patients in NF group were given NDP 80-100mg/m2 by 2-hour infusion on d_1and 5-FU 500mg/m2 d_1-5.Every 3 weeks as one cycle for at least 2 cycles was given.Results:The response rate was 52.5% in TP group,and 48.0% in NF group.Statistically no significant difference between the two groups(P0.05).The toxicity in TP group was more severe than NF group.The main toxicities of TP group were alopecia,neutropenia,gastrointestinal reaction,peripheral neurotoxicity.The main toxicities of NF group were gastrointestinal reaction and neutropenia.Conclusion:The response rate of PTX/DDP regimen for patients with advanced esophageal carcinoma is similar to NDP/5-FU regimen and its adverse toxicity is tolerable.Either of regimen can be used in treatment of advanced esophageal carcinoma.