Context: Advanced esophageal cancer is aggressive with an expected median survival of 6-7 months. Combination chemotherapy regimens provide effective palliation, but result in substantial toxicity.
Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of patients with advanced esophageal cancer, not amenable to definitive intent therapy who were treated with intravenous weekly paclitaxel.
Results: Between October 2010 and August 2011, 51 patients were included. Median age was 56 years, with a male: female ratio of 2.9:1. 29% were mid esophageal and 55% were lower third and gastroesophageal junction tumors. 65% of the tumors had squamous histology. Performance status was > 2 in 45%. 61% patients had received prior therapy, either definitive or palliative. 51% patients were platinum-pre-treated and 29% had received prior 3 weekly paclitaxel. 76% patients had distant metastases. Median number of cycles of weekly paclitaxel delivered was 11. 71% of patients had improvement in dysphagia, with a median time to symptom improvement of 9 days. In 72% patients, the feeding nasogastric tube could be removed. Overall response rate was 49% (complete remission: 4%, partial remission: 45%, stable disease: 13%). Median progression free survival was 4.7 months (confidence interval [95% CI: 3.7-5.7 months]) and median overall survival was 7.5 months (95% CI: 3.1-11.8 months). Histopathology, performance status and pre-treatment albumin significantly affected survival. The most common grade 3/4 toxicities included hyponatremia (14%), fatigue (16%), diarrhea (12%), anemia (31%), neutropenia (10%) and febrile neutropenia (4%).
Conclusions: Metronomic weekly paclitaxel chemotherapy may provide palliative benefit in advanced unresectable metastatic esophageal cancer with minimal toxicity.