title: Combined chemoradiotherapy vs. radiotherapy alone for early stage squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: a study of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group.
abstract: Squamous carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus has an extremely poor prognosis. This study, EST-1282, was undertaken by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) to determine whether the combined use of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), mitomycin C, and radiation therapy improved the disease-free survival and overall survival of patients with carcinoma of the esophagus, compared to those who received radiation therapy alone. Two- and 5-year survivals were 12% and 7% in the radiation alone arm and 27% and 9% in the chemoradiation arm. Patients treated with chemoradiation had a longer median survival (14.8 months), compared to patients receiving radiation therapy alone (9.2 months). This difference was statistically significant. The same pattern of survival was noted in almost all subgroups independent of whether surgical resection was performed.
authors.affiliation: Morristown Memorial Hospital, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Douglass
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Haller
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dayal
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kirkwood
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Tormey
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Schutt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hinson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sischy
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011786:Quality Control; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage
chemical_list: D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D016685:Mitomycin; D005472:Fluorouracil