Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with raltitrexed and nedaplatin regimen for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Background: The aim of the study reported here was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of raltitrexed and nedaplatin with concurrent radiotherapy in patients with unresectable, locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: Eligible patients were adults with newly diagnosed untreated, unresectable esophageal cancer in stages I to IV with lymph node metastases or cervical esophageal cancer. Patients received nedaplatin 25 mg/m(2) per day on day 1-3, raltitrexed 3 mg/m(2) on days 1 repeated every 21 days for 2 cycles, and combined concurrent radiotherapy (2 Gy/fraction, total dose of 60 Gy). Result: Thirty patients were included with squamous cell carcinoma. The median follow-up duration was 24 months. The overall response rate was 90%. The 1-year and 2-year overall survival rates for all patients were 70.4% and 55.7% with a median survival time of 30 months, and the median progression free survival was 20 month. The major toxicities were leukopenia and thrombopenia, with grade 3 to 4 leukopenia and thrombopenia were 50% and 30% of patients. Conclusion: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with raltitrexed and nedaplatin agents frequently caused myelosuppression but was highly active and suggested to be a promising treatment option for locally advanced ESCC.