Abstract
Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SmCCE) is a rare and aggressive disease known to have a poor prognosis. SmCCE patients are generally treated with a chemotherapeutic regimen for small cell lung cancer. Salvage therapy for patients with relapsed or refractory tumors has not yet been established. A 63-year-old man with extensive SmCCE was treated with chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin (CDDP) and irinotecan (CPT-11). After the second course of CPT-11/CDDP, the celiac lymph node increased in size. Amrubicin (AMR) as second-line chemotherapy was started. The patient had a complete response after the fifth course of AMR, resulting in an 8-month progression-free survival after initial administration. This case suggests that, as in small cell lung cancer, AMR is effective for SmCCE.
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Nagasaki, E., Yuda, M., Tanishima, Y. et al. Complete response of esophageal small cell carcinoma amrubicin treatment. J Infect Chemother 19, 770–775 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10156-012-0510-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10156-012-0510-8