13-Cis-retinoic acid and interferon alpha-2a in patients with advanced esophageal cancer: a phase II trial

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible therapeutic effect of 13-cis-retinoic acid plus interferon alpha-2a in patients with inoperable squamous cancer of the esophagus. Patients with advanced, measurable, histologically confirmed squamous carcinoma of the esophagus with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0, 1 or 2 who had adequate bone marrow, liver, and renal function were eligible for study. Patients were given cis-retinoic acid 1 mg/kg/day per mouth continuously and interferon alpha-2a 3 Mu/day for 3 days followed by 6 Mu subcutaneously daily thereafter. Seventeen patients were entered on study. Fifteen patients were evaluable for toxicity. The most common toxicities were grade 1 and 2 cheilitis, dry skin and flu-like symptoms which occurred in all patients. Two patients had grade 3 toxicity (1 anorexia and 1 fatigue). No grade 4 toxicity occurred. Fifteen patients were evaluable for response. No objective response was documented. The median survival time was 15 weeks. With no response seen it is unlikely that the combination of treatment as used in this study will be of benefit in patients with advanced squamous cancer of the esophagus.