A Complete Response in Small Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus Treated by S-1/Cisplatin Combined Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy

Abstract

Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SmCCE) is a rare disease which is considered to be more malignant than the most common types of esophageal cancer. The optimal treatment strategy for this disease still remains controversial. A 69-year-old male was diagnosed to have SmCCE (stage IIIA, T3N1M0). Due to the patient's poor general condition, chemo-radiotherapy consisting of S-1/cisplatin therapy and a total of 60 Gy of radiotherapy was performed. After the treatment, the main lesion completely disappeared while some ulceration remained. A histological examination revealed no viable cancer cells in biopsy specimens obtained by endoscopy. Computed tomographic examinations showed a decreased wall thickness of the esophagus and an improvement in the swelling of the lymph nodes. S-1 monotherapy was administered following the main chemoradiation therapy, and it was performed for a total of 20 courses. The patient has been doing well without recurrence for over 3 years. We judged the effect to be a complete response. This combination chemo-radiotherapy with S-1 and cisplatin may therefore be one of the effective treatments against SmCCE.

Short-term clinical effect of conformal radiotherapy combined with tegafur gimeracil oteracil potassiumin treating recurrent esophagus cancer

“…Morbidity of esophagus cancer of males is higher than that of females, and the age of onset is mostly over 50 years old 3. China is a country with high morbidity of esophagus cancer, where about 150 thousand people die of it annually, and with aged tendency of population, constituent ratio of morbidity of senile patients showed an increasing tendency 4,5…”