Objective: This randomized controlled clinical study was to assess and compare the efficacy and safety of two chemoradiotherapy regimens [cisplatin+5-fluorouracil+3 dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) and cisplatin+weekly docetaxel+3DCRT] in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: A total of seventy-four patients with clinical stages IIB to IIIB esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled. Chemotherapy for PF group comprised 5-fluorouracil at days 1-5 (250 mg/m2/d) and cisplatin (20 mg/m2) at days 1-3 of every 28-day cycle; full treatment course included 2 cycles. Chemotherapy for DP group comprised docetaxel (20 mg/m2) and cisplatin (20 mg/m2) at days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and 36. Both groups treated with concurrent 60 Gy 3DCRT at 200 cGy/d. Results: Seventy-four patients were enrolled and 71 completed the planned treatment, with a follow-up rate of 95.94%. Short-term curative effect was not statistically significant between the two groups (P=0.471). The 2-year survival rates were 65.7% and 61.1%, respectively (P=0.806), 5 years survival rates were 34.29% and 27.78%, respectively (P=0.221), and there was no significant difference by Fisher test (P=0.734). As common side effects, incidence rates of radioactive esophagitis and hematological toxicity were lower in DP group. Conclusion: For locally advanced esophageal cancer patients, current chemoradiotherapy with chemotherapy regimen of weekly docetaxel plus cisplatin has equal curative effect with 5-fluorouracil plus cisplatin, but well-tolerated by reducing side effects such as radioactive esophagitis and bone marrow suppression.
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