[Radiotherapy of esophageal cancer: clinical usefulness of new grouping].
A total of 188 cases of nonresected esophageal cancer were categorized into the following groups based on T category. (1987 UICC) and radiological classification (Japanese Society of Esophageal Diseases); Group 1: superficial or early (T2 or less) tumorous type; Group 2: advanced tumorous type, early serrated or early spiral type; Group 3: others. The response to radiotherapy was significantly related to the group. According to the proportional hazard model, the important factors predicting long-term survival were T category, radiotherapy response at the end of treatment, and group. There was a tendency to obtain better local control in group 1 patients than in group 2 patients, but cause-specific survival was the same for both groups (mainly the appearance of distant metastases). Local control was poor in group 3. If the tumor response at 40Gy was excellent in group 2 patients, the main cause of death was distant metastases, much the same as in group 1 patients. However, if response at 40Gy was not excellent, the main cause of death was local failure even though final tumor response was excellent. It seemed that therapy that may improve local control is valuable for group 3 patient, and for group 2 patients whose tumor response at 40Gy was not excellent.
Hishinuma
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Department of Radiology, Miyagi Cancer Center.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D016019:Survival Analysis