Factors predictive of survival for esophageal carcinoma treated with preoperative radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy followed by surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate parameters that may influence prognosis in patients treated with preoperative radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiation.


METHODS
One hundred seventy-six patients with esophageal carcinoma received preoperative radiotherapy (45 patients) or chemoradiation (131 patients). Forty-three received no surgery (NS), 32 had exploratory surgery (ES), and 101 received definitive surgery (DS).


RESULTS
Five-year cause-specific survival and absolute survival rates were overall, 19% and 16%; NS group, 0% and 0%; ES group, 3% and 3%; DS group, 30% and 26%. On univariate analysis, definitive surgery (P < 0.0001), tumor size less than 5 cm (P < 0.0001), and chemotherapy (P = 0.0015) were significant predictors of improved cause-specific survival. Cause-specific survival was 51% for tumors </=3 cm (n = 33), 32% for 3.1 to 4 cm (n = 28), and 16% for 4.1 to 5 cm (n = 29). No patient with a tumor >/=6 cm (n = 86) survived. Multivariate analysis of the DS group showed complete or partial pathologic response (P = 0.0001), chemotherapy (P = 0.0026), and overall treatment time less than 3 months (P = 0.0405) significantly predicted improved cause-specific survival. Tumor <5 cm was marginally significant (P = 0.0515).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients who undergo preoperative chemoradiation and definitive surgery have improved survival.
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Alexander M
AM
Yeh
William M
WM
Mendenhall
Christopher G
CG
Morris
Robert A
RA
Zlotecki
Rodwige J
RJ
Desnoyers
Stephen B
SB
Vogel
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome