[A case of esophageal small-cell carcinoma responding to chemotherapy with CTP-11]

After examination of a 64-year-old man with dysphagia who consulted our hospital, a diagnosis was made an esophageal small-cell carcinoma. This tumor had infiltrated the aorta and upon further examination another carcinoma, trachial adenosquamous cell carcinoma was found. We judged this case to be inoperable. At first, 2 courses of systemic chemotherapy were administered by CDDP but this therapy had little effect. We know that CPT-11 is effective in the treatment of lung small-cell carcinoma, leading us to a decision to use CPT-11 for the second systemic chemotherapy. As a result of 8 courses, the tumor minification rate was 64% with PR. After completing 13 courses, the patient could ingest any type of food. We observed grade 2 leukopenia as the only side effect. The patient survived for 1 year and 10 months after beginning the initial treatment. He transferred to another hospital for laser therapy for his trachial carcinoma. The patient died of brain metastasis. To date the treatment of patients with esophageal small-cell carcinoma with chemotherapy using CPT-11 has not been reported. We suggest that CPT-11 is an effective therapy in improving the condition of patients QOL with esophageal small-cell carcinoma.