OBJECTIVE: To probe into the clinical efficacy of docetaxel and lobaplatin combined with radiotherapy in treatment of middle and advanced esophageal cancer. METHOD: 64 patients with esophageal cancer admitted into General Hospital of Fushun Mining Bureau from Feb. 2013 to Feb. 2015 were retrospectively selected and divided into observation group(33 cases) and control group(31 cases) according to different therapeutic regimens. The control group was given three dimensional conformal radiation therapy alone, while the observation group was given docetaxel and lobaplatin for chemotherapy based on the control group. Differences in incidences of adverse drug reactions between two groups were compared; in 3-year follow-up, the survival rates of patients in 1, 2 and 3 years were observed. RESULTS: The incidence of nausea and vomiting of observation group was 57.6%(19/33), which was significantly higher than that of the control group(45.2%, 14/31), with statistically significant difference(P<0.05), there was no significant difference in incidence of other adverse drug reactions(P>0.05); the survival rates of observation group in 1, 2 and 3 years were significantly higher than those of the control group, with statistically significant differences(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of docetaxel and lobaplatin with radiotherapy in treatment of middle and advanced esophageal cancer can effectively prolong patients’ lifetime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]