O2-11-5 - A Retrospective Analysis of Irinotecan for Heavily Pretreated Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Background: There are few therapeutic options for pretreated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of irinotecan for pretreated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.Methods: We reviewed patients who received irinotecan for previously treated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma at the National Cancer Center Hospital from 1999 to 2012. We analyzed patient characteristics, efficacy and toxicity of irinotecan, using patient charts. Irinotecan (100-150 mg/m2) was administered intravenously, every 14 days.Results: Twenty-nine patients were analyzed. The characteristics were as follows: median age, 56 years (range, 37–79 years); male/female, 26/3; PS 0/1, 6/23; and cStage IV/recurrent, 17/12. All of 29 were previously treated with platinum-based treatment and 22 patients (76%) were previously treated with taxane. A median number of irinotecan administration was three (range 1 to 12). Among the 29 patients who had measurable lesions, no patients achieved complete response and one (4%) obtained partial response. The overall response rate was 4% and the disease control rate was 14%. At a median follow-up time of 4.1 months, 28 patients died of tumor progression while one patient was lost to follow-up. The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 1.4 months and 4.1 months, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 leukopenia and neutropenia occurred in two patients, although no patients experienced febrile neutropenia. All grades of diarrhea were noted in 5 patients although no patients experienced grade 3 or 4 diarrhea. The most common reasons for treatment discontinuation were disease progression in 24 patients (83%). Six patients received subsequential therapy.Conclusions: Irinotecan was feasible, however the efficacy was limited in patients with previously treated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.