Definitive Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy With Docetaxel Plus Cisplatin Versus 5-fluorouracil Plus Cisplatin in Patients With Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Radiotherapy: All patients underwent conventional radiotherapy, 1.8-2.0 Gy per fraction and 5 fractions per week. The prescribed dose was 60-64 Gy to PTV1 and 50 Gy to PTV2. Patients received either three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). 3D-CRT treatment plans were calculated by Pinnacle planning system and IMRT treatment plans were calculated by Monacle planning system. All patients were treated with a 6-MV or 8-MV linear accelerator. Chemotherapy: All patients received two cycles of chemotherapy concurrently with radiotherapy. Patients assigned to the DP group received two cycles of DP regimen (docetaxel 60 mg/m2 delivered on day 1 and cisplatin 80 mg/m2 delivered on day 1) at a 3-week interval. In cases of grade 4 hematologic toxicity or severe non-hematologic toxicities, dose adjustment was performed in the subsequent chemotherapy cycle.

Radiotherapy: All patients underwent conventional radiotherapy, 1.8-2.0 Gy per fraction and 5 fractions per week. The prescribed dose was 60-64 Gy to PTV1 and 50 Gy to PTV2. Patients received either three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). 3D-CRT treatment plans were calculated by Pinnacle planning system and IMRT treatment plans were calculated by Monacle planning system. All patients were treated with a 6-MV or 8-MV linear accelerator. Chemotherapy: All patients received two cycles of chemotherapy concurrently with radiotherapy. Patients assigned to the PF group received two cycles of PF regimen (cisplatin 80 mg/m2 delivered on day 1 and 5-FU 1000 mg/m2 continuous infusion over 24 hours daily on days 1-4) at a 3-week interval. In cases of grade 4 hematologic toxicity or severe non-hematologic toxicities, dose adjustment was performed in the subsequent chemotherapy cycle.