title: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer: comparison between intermittent standard-dose cisplatin with 5-fluorouracil and daily low-dose cisplatin with continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although current standard treatment for advanced esophageal cancer is intermittent standard-dose cisplatin with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (ISD-FP), daily low-dose cisplatin with continuous infusion of 5-FU (CLD-FP) is advocated for equivalent effectiveness and lower toxicity. The feasibility of these two concurrent chemoradiotherapeutic protocols was retrospectively reviewed for local control rate, overall survival, toxicity, and compliance in a single institutional situation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Concurrent chemoradiotherapy, using 60 Gy of radiation and ISD-FP or CLD-FP was non-randomly scheduled for 29 patients between June 1994 and March 2001.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete response in the irradiated volume at the end of primary treatment was shown by 8 of 15 and 9 of 14 patients in the ISD-FP and CLD-FP groups, respectively. The projected overall survival rate at 2 years was 55% for stage III patients and 13% for stage IV. Median survival times were 14 months versus 15 months in the ISD-FP and CLD-FP groups, with no significant difference. Toxicities were similar, including two treatment-related deaths in each group. Chemotherapy was completed for 10 of 15 and 11 of 14 patients in the ISD-FP and CLD-FP groups, respectively. Modification of the planned regimen was more often required for the CLD-FP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CLD-FP therapy has no apparent advantage over ISD-FP therapy from the perspective of compliance and safety. A randomized phase II clinical trial comparing ISD-FP and CLD-FP, currently being performed, is expected to provide further information. Although current standard treatment for advanced esophageal cancer is intermittent standard-dose cisplatin with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (ISD-FP), daily low-dose cisplatin with continuous infusion of 5-FU (CLD-FP) is advocated for equivalent effectiveness and lower toxicity. The feasibility of these two concurrent chemoradiotherapeutic protocols was retrospectively reviewed for local control rate, overall survival, toxicity, and compliance in a single institutional situation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. hsai@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Heitetsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sai
authors.forename: Michihide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitsumori
authors.forename: Chikako
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: Setsuko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: Yasumasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hiraoka
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil