Objective:This randomized control ed clinical study was to assess and compare the ef icacy and safety of two chemoradiotherapy regimens [cisplatin+5-fluorouracil+3 dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) and cisplatin+weekly docetaxel+3DCRT] in patients with local y advanced esophageal squamous cel carcinoma. Methods:A total of seventy-four patients with clinical stages IIB to IIIB esophageal squamous cel carcinoma were enrol ed. 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;ful 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 enrol ed and 71 completed the planned treatment, with a fol ow-up rate of 95.94%. Short-term curative ef ect was not statistical y 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 dif erence by Fisher test (P=0.734). As common side ef ects, incidence rates of radioactive esophagitis and hematological toxicity were lower in DP group. Conclusion:For local y advanced esophageal cancer patients, current chemoradiotherapy with chemo-therapy regimen of weekly docetaxel plus cisplatin has equal curative ef ect with 5-fluorouracil plus cisplatin, but wel-tolerated by reducing side ef ects such as radioactive esophagitis and bone marrow suppression.