Treatment results of chemoradiation for T1 esophageal cancer with lymph node metastases.
OBJECTIVE
We clinically evaluated 12 patients with advanced superficial esophageal cancer who had undergone chemoradiotherapy.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was performed between October 1992 and December 1998 on 12 patients with M1 metastasis in lymph nodes or direct invasion of enlarged lymph nodes (A3) to adjacent structures. Combined treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy was applied to all patients. High-dose cisplatin (CDDP) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) were administered to five patients, low-dose CDDP and 5-FU to five patients, and others to two patients. Ten patients were treated by external irradiation alone, and two patients were treated by external and intracavitary irradiation.


RESULTS
Of the 12 patients, the response of the primary tumor to this therapy resulted in 11 CRs (91.6%) and one PR, while the response of the largest metastatic lesion in lymph nodes in each patient resulted in three CRs (25%), four PRs (33.3%), and five NCs (41.6%). The 2-year survival rate of all patients was 51.9%, and MST was 28.9 months. The 2-year survival rates of the M1 and A3 patients were 60.0% and 41.7%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed that the present chemotherapy regimen is ineffective in treating metastatic lymph node lesions. Therefore, it will be necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of chemoradiotherapeutic agents from the perspective of their effects on metastatic lymph nodes.
Itoh
Y
Y
Department of Radiology, Nishio Municipal Hospital, Aichi, Japan.
Fuwa
N
N
Matsumoto
A
A
Asano
A
A
Sasaoka
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil