Definitive Chemoradiotherapy with Docetaxel, Cisplatin, and 5-Fluorouracil for Advanced Cervical Esophageal Cancer: A Medium-Term Outcome

BACKGROUND: Definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) is widely considered as a treatment option for cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) toward preserving the larynx. We have reported favorable outcomes, including the treatment response rate and short-term survival of dCRT concomitant with docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil (DCF-RT) for advanced cervical ESCC. The aim of this paper was to report the subsequent progress of the study. METHODS: We assessed 18 patients with advanced (clinical stage II–IV, including T4b and/or M1 lymph node) cervical ESCC at our department who received DCF-RT as the first-line treatment between December 2010 and June 2020. RESULTS: A total of 14 men and 4 women underwent the study regimen. The pretreatment clinical stage included stage II, stage III, stage IVA, and stage IVB cases (including 9 patients with T4b) [8 trachea and 2 thyroids] and 7 patients with the M1 lymph node. The complete response (CR) was achieved in 15 patients, stable disease in 2, and progressive disease in 1. Of 15 patients with CR, 7 experienced recurrence, and 8 had continued CR. Frequent cases of grade ≥3 adverse effects included leucopenia, neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, and pharyngeal pain. The 3-year overall survival rate, disease-free survival rate, and disease-specific survival rate were 44.2%, 47.7%, and 48.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: DCF-RT for advanced cervical esophageal cancer could achieve a favorable prognosis with larynx preservation. Further observations are warranted to establish the long-term prognosis, late complications of radiotherapy, and the significance of salvage surgery.