[Chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer].
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.
Fujita
Hiromasa
H
Department of Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan.
Sueyoshi
Susumu
S
Tanaka
Toshiaki
T
Sasahara
Hiroko
H
Matono
Satoru
S
Yamana
Hideaki
H
Shirouzu
Kazuo
K
Suzuki
Gen
G
Hayabuchi
Naofumi
N
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
D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil