Effect of docetaxel and nedaplatin combined with radiotherapy on serum indexes and circulating tumor cells in elderly esophageal cancer patients

Objective\r\nTo analyze the effect of docetaxel and nedaplatin combined with radiotherapy on serum indexes and CTCs in elderly patients with esophageal cancer. \r\n\r\n\r\nMethods\r\nNinety-two elderly patients with esophageal cancer were randomized into two groups.The control group was treated with radiotherapy only, while the experimental group received radiotherapy combined with docetaxel and nedaplatin chemotherapy delivered via intravenous drip dosed at 75 mg/m2 docetaxel and 80 mg/m2 nedaplatin.Clinical effectiveness, serum CEA level, SCC level, Cyfra21-1 level and peripheral blood tumor circulating cells before and after treatment were compared, and adverse effects were recorded. \r\n\r\n\r\nResults\r\nThe rates of effectiveness for the two groups were 84.78% and 65.21%, respectively, indicating a significant difference (χ2=4.700, P=0.030) between them.Serum CEA, SCC, and Cyfra21-1 in both groups declined markedly after treatment (all P 0.05), and all adverse effects were well tolerated by patients in both groups after treatment. \r\n\r\n\r\nConclusions\r\nDocetaxel and nedaplatin combined with radiotherapy can increase the effectiveness of treatment for esophageal cancer in elderly patients and can decrease serum levels of CEA, SCC, Cyfra21-1 and rates of positive CTCs.Additionally, the adverse effects are tolerable.\r\n\r\n\r\nKey words: \r\nDocetaxel; Nedaplatin; Circulating tumor cells; Esophageal cancer; Serum indexes