title: Radiotherapy preceded by multidrug chemotherapy in carcinoma of the esophagus: a pilot study of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group.
abstract: This is a report on R.T.O.G. #77-07, a phase II pilot study aimed at determining the toxicity, primary tumor control, and survival achieved with a combination of triple-drug chemotherapy prior to radiotherapy in carcinoma of the esophagus. The drugs used were vincristine, bleomycin, and methotrexate. A total of 26 cases were registered, one of which died during chemotherapy; 11 had only one chemotherapy course, and 14 had two chemotherapy courses as planned. Drug toxicity could be evaluated in 23 patients: one died from liver damage secondary to chemotherapy effect (4%), two had nausea and vomiting (9%), one had weakness and skin rash (4%), and one had fever and vomiting (4%). There was no complete tumor response to chemotherapy in 22 evaluable cases; 12 of 22 (55%) showed some measurable tumor reduction. Radiation toxicity could be evaluated in 25 patients: 1 of 25 (4%) developed clinical pericarditis, and 2 of 25 (8%) developed severe esophagitis. A complete response to radiotherapy was observed in 15 of 25 (60%) patients; 7 of 25 (28%) showed a partial response; and 3 of 25 (12%) had no measurable tumor reduction. The median survival in 25 evaluable cases was 22 months. In 11 patients who received a single course of chemotherapy, the median survival was 19 months, while in 14 patients who received two courses of chemotherapy, the median survival was only 9 months. However, this difference is not statistically significant.
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001761:Bleomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D008727:Methotrexate