Thirty-four patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal cancer were treated with cisplatin 35 mg/m2/day x 3 days in bolus, plus bleomycin 15 mg/day x 3 days, as an 18 h infusion, every 21-28 days. Twenty-nine are evaluable for response. Objective response was seen in 15 (52%, 95% confidence limits 35-69%) patients. Toxicity was mild. Twelve patients with locoregional disease were treated with this combination followed by radiotherapy and three of them are alive without disease at 18, 22 and 36 months. This combination warrants further study in the setting of combined treatment.