title: [Chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer].
abstract: Since mucosal (T1a) esophageal cancer is well controlled by endoscopic treatment, chemoradiotherapy (CRTx) is not indicated. However, for a submucosal (T1b, N0) esophageal cancer, CRTx may be the first line of treatment, since it can provide a good response rate, with an excellent survival rate comparable to that after esophagectomy. Definitive CRTx is also in the first line of treatment for a T4 esophageal cancer, because there was no difference in the survival rate between CRTx with surgery and CRTx without surgery in our trial. Esophagectomy is indicated only for non-responders or recurrence-salvage surgery. For patients with a potentially-resectable (T2-T3) esophageal cancer, esophagectomy offered a longer survival rate than CRTx did, in our series. However, there remains controversy over the efficacy of CRTx for a T2-T3 esophageal cancer. It has been reported by the National Cancer Center Hospital East Group that definitive CRTx provided the same survival rate as esophagectomy. A prospective trial comparing the survival rate after esophagectomy and that after CRTx for a T2-T3 esophageal cancer is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromasa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sueyoshi
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasahara
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matono
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamana
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shirouzu
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Naofumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hayabuchi
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000401:mortality; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil