Background: We evaluated the role of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for patients with inoperable squamous esophageal cancer.
Methods: Patients with locally advanced or metastatic squamous esophageal carcinoma who received CRT were recruited. The CRT consists of continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil at 200 mg/m(2)/day, and cisplatin at 60 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 22, with concurrent radiotherapy for a total of 50 to 60 Gy in 25 to 30 fractions over 6 weeks. Efficacy was assessed by endoscopy and computed tomographic scan before and 8 weeks after completion of the treatment program. Median survival and the need for palliative esophageal stenting were compared with another group of patients who received endoscopic stenting.
Results: From 1996 to 2003, a total of 36 consecutive patients (33 male, mean +/- SD age 63.2 +/- 9.5 years) with T4 disease (81%) with or without cervical nodal metastasis (50%) received CRT, while 36 patients treated with endoscopic stenting alone were recruited as controls. Both groups were comparable in demographics, pretreatment dysphagia score, comorbidities, and tumor characteristics. CRT was completed in 32 patients (89%). There was no treatment-related mortality. Tumor volume was greatly reduced after CRT in 19 patients. Four patients (11%) received salvage esophagectomy 9 to 42 months after CRT. Compared with the stenting group, CRT statistically significantly improved 5-year survival (15% vs. 0%, P = .01), median survival (10.8 months vs. 4.0 months, P < .005), and need for stenting (22% vs. 100%, P = .005).
Conclusions: Palliative CRT can effectively improve the symptoms of dysphagia in patients with inoperable squamous esophageal carcinoma. It results in better survival compared with endoscopic stenting in these patients.