Summary Single-agent therapy with paclitaxel is effective against both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus. However, only limited data are available on the combination of paclitaxel with other cytotoxic drugs in this entity. Patients with unresectable stage l1l, recurrent or metastatic tumours were treated in a multicentre setting with paclitaxel 90 mg m-2 given over 3 h intravenously, followed by cisplatin 50 mg m-2. The courses were repeated every 14 days. Twenty patients with squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus were evaluable for response. The overall remission rate was 40% (8/20), including 15% (3/20) clinically complete responses. Clinical benefit response, defined as relief of dysphagia and/or significant gain in weight, was achieved in 70% of the patients. Neutropenia of CTC grade 3 occurred only in 10% of the patients; no grade 4 neutropenia and no severe thrombocytopenia was encountered. CTC grade 4 neurotoxicity was seen in 5% of patients. Cisplatin/paclitaxel administered every 14 days, was effective in patients with poor prognosis oesophageal cancer and toxicity was acceptable.Keywords: paclitaxel; cisplatin; oesophageal cancer Several chemotherapeutic agents have been adequately investigated in patients with oesophageal cancer, predominantly with squamous cell histology. The most active drugs, with a response rate of at least 20%, are bleomycin, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, mitomycin-C and vindesine (Ajani, 1994). Currently, the combination of 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin is considered th6 standard treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus, with 50% of the patients responding to the treatment. Paclitaxel has demonstrated significant clinical activity against a variety of tumours. After a 24-h continuous infusion of 250 mg m-2 paclitaxel, Ajani et al (1994) achieved either a complete or partial response in 32% of oesophageal cancer patients.Only limited data are available on the combination of paclitaxel with other cytotoxic drugs in oesophageal cancer. Ajani et al (1995) have reported the preliminary results of a regimen combining paclitaxel with cisplatin and a continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil. The overall remission rate was 44%. Gelmon and colleagues (Gelmon et al, 1996) established the maximum tolerated dose of paclitaxel in combination with cisplatin, repeated biweekly, in patients with metastatic breast cancer. The objective of our trial was to evaluate the response rate and the toxic effects of cisplatin/paclitaxel, repeated biweekly, in previously untreated patients with unresectable, recurrent or metastatic carcinoma of the oesophagus.

Despite its limitation resulting from problems with numbers and randomization this study shows that massage can be at least as effective as SMC in chronic pain syndromes. Relative changes are equal, but tend to last longer and to generalize more into psychologic domains. Because this is a pilot study, the results need replication, but our experiences might be useful for other researchers.

. This is the first study to document an important drug interaction between a widely used immunosuppressive agent and a class of drugs frequently used in transplant patients. This interaction results in a decreased MMF drug exposure which may lead to patients having a higher risk for acute rejection and transplant vasculopathy.

PD has a detrimental effect on working capacity and is associated with high costs. Employed PD patients do not, however, always receive the support they need. It is therefore very relevant that employers and patients are informed about strategies and techniques developed for counteracting symptoms of PD which might support patients to stay in the workforce for a longer period of time.

None of the audiological results after 4 weeks of therapy with ART showed any dose-limiting auditory toxicity. However, audiological monitoring in further clinical studies with prolonged use of oral ART in doses up to 200 mg daily is warranted. The ARTIC M33/2 study is registered at eudract.ema.europa.eu with the Number 2007-004432-23 and at clinicaltrials.gov with the Number NCT00764036.