Phase II evaluation of carboplatin in advanced esophageal carcinoma. A trial of the Phase I/II Study Group of the Association for Medical Oncology of the German Cancer Society

Abstract

Eighteen patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus without prior chemotherapy were treated with carboplatin. Based on experimental data a split dose of carboplatin of 130 mg/m2 given on days 1, 3 and 5 was administered. In cases showing no WBC and platelet suppression, an escalated dose of 160 mg/m2 was proposed. Out of 18 evaluable patients no complete and partial responses were observed and there were only 5 patients with stable disease (27.8%) lasting 2-7 months. Therefore, carboplatin in the regimen used shows no meaningful antitumor activity in patients with advanced esophageal carcinoma. The escalated dose (mean 107-123% of the starting dose) was well tolerated and was followed by only minor gastrointestinal and hematological toxicity. Therefore, this regimen can be recommended for future trials.