Background: We retrospectively investigated long-term toxicity after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).
Methods: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy was performed in 110 patients with T1 to T4 disease containing M1 lymph node (LYM) disease. Chemotherapy consisted of protracted infusion of 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m(2) per 24 h on days 1 to 5 and 8 to 12, combined with 2-h infusion of cisplatin 40 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8. Radiation treatment of the mediastinum at a dose of 30 Gy in 15 fractions was administered concomitantly with chemotherapy. A course schedule with a 3-week treatment and a 2-week break was applied twice, with a total radiation dose of 60 Gy. For the assessment of toxicity, the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group/European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer late radiation morbidity scoring schema was adopted.
Results: A total of 81 patients were recruited in patients with stage I to IVA. Of 34 patients with complete response, 1 patient died as a result of acute myocardial infarction. Grade 2, 3, and 4 late toxicities occurred with the following incidences: pericarditis in 3 patients, 1 patient, and 2 patients, respectively; heart failure in 0, 0, and 3 patients; pleural effusion in 2, 3, and 0 patients; and radiation pneumonitis in 0, 0, and 1 patient, respectively.
Conclusions: Definitive chemoradiotherapy for ESCC is effective with substantial toxicities. Further investigation is warranted to minimize the normal tissue toxicities.