In this paper, we propose maximum likelihood (ML) decision feedback channel estimation (DFCE) for M-ary orthogonal modulation in direct sequence/code division multiple access (DS/CDMA) systems. The proposed DFCE uses the maximum combiner output in a RAKE receiver as decision feedback information, enabling M-ary orthogonal signals to be demodulated coherently and a RAKE receiver to use a em maximal ration combining (MRC) scheme. However, the performance of the proposed DFCE in the multiuser environment is severely degraded due to multiple access interference (MAI). To overcome this problem, a multistage parallel interference cancellation (PIC) scheme is combined with the proposed DFCE for multiuser environments. Accurate knowledge of the channel coefficient estimated by the proposed DFCE is used to regenerate the signal of each user for the multistage PIC scheme. According to the results of our simulations, the performance of coherent demodulation using the proposed system is significantly improved in comparison with conventional noncoherent demodulation.