Sequential Paclitaxel Plus Cisplatin Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy as 1st Line Treatment for Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer

Metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinomas have poor prognosis and majority of patients resistant to chemotherapy in China. In the investigators phase II clinical trial proceeded before, the combination of paclitaxel with cisplatin showed good tolerance and efficacy to esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. Radiotherapy has been indicated as a definitive treatment for unresectable or medically inoperable tumors in ESCC patients. However, not only the combination with chemotherapy, but also the boundaries of the clinical target volume (CTV) are not internationally defined. The investigators then initiated a prospective phase II clinical trial with sequential paclitaxel/cisplatin and radiotherapy as the 1st line treatment in metastatic esophageal carcinoma to observe the efficacy and safety of the combination.