Long-term complete response in supraclavicular lymph node metastases of esophageal cancer using systemic...

Esophageal cancer (EC) is a highly lethal disease. We report here a patient with supraclavicular lymph node metastases of esophageal cancer, who was successfully treated by systemic chemotherapy containing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), docetaxel and cisplatin (CDDP). The patient, a 53-year-old woman, was diagnosed as having squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus upon endoscopic examination. She underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin (CDDP), 5-fluorouraol (5-FU)(CF) for four courses. Then, a chest CT revealed that the esophageal tumor and mediastina lymph node metastases had markedly decreased in size to the point of being unmeasurable. Due to the patient refusing surgery and radiotherapy, and because her general condition was favorable, 2 courses of systemic chemotherapy with docetaxel, CDDP, 5-FU (DCF) were administered. CT showed the supraclavicular lymph node and esophageal tumor disappeared. No tumor recurrence has occurred in the 5 years and 8 months since the first cancer cure. Therefore, in patents whose general conditions are favorable, DCF should be considered as a treatment option for advanced esophageal cancer.