title: A randomized study of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery versus surgery for localized squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite well-established surgical approaches, the prognosis for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus remains dismal. To assess the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy (CRT), a randomized trial with and without sequential preoperative CRT was undertaken; CRT combined 20 Gy and two courses of 5-FU and cisplatin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were included on the basis of the following criteria: squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, younger than 70 years of age, World Health Organization status below 2, estimated survival time greater than 3 months, and no previous treatment for the cancer. Patients were not included if they had experienced a loss in body weight greater than 15% or had tracheoesophageal fistula, metastases, or uncontrollable infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-six patients thus fulfilled the criteria for inclusion (41 CRT, 45 non-CRT). The groups were well-matched for age, sex, tumor location, size, and grade. Operative mortality was 8.5% and 7%, respectively, for each group with a 27-day hospital stay for both groups. Long-term survival was not significantly different, with 47% of both groups alive at 1 year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors concluded that this neoadjuvant treatment did not change operative mortality or survival time for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.
authors.affiliation: Regional Cancer Institute, Centre Eugène Marquis, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Le Prise
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Etienne
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meunier
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maddern
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben Hassel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gedouin
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boutin
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Campion
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Launois
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015182:Lymphatic Irradiation; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil