[Progress of postoperative adjuvant therapies for esophageal cancer].
Among the gastrointestinal cancers, esophageal cancer is supposed to be relatively sensitive to both radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The efficacy of combined chemo-radiotherapy in unresectable patients has been confirmed by several investigators. However, no prospective randomized controlled trials with surgery alone as a control had demonstrated significant survival benefit by postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy in resectable patients. Only a slight prolongation of disease-free survival has been demonstrated with postoperative CDDP + 5-FU therapy. Thus, at present time, postoperative adjuvant therapy is not considered to be a standard therapy for resectable esophageal cancer. Clinical trials with more active combination chemotherapy including new anticancer drugs and new therapeutic strategies such as specific cancer immunotherapy and molecular targeting agents are hoped for in the future.
Terashima
Masanori
M
Department of Surgery I, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan.
Kogure
Michihiko
M
Gotoh
Mitsukazu
M
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil