[The value of postoperative arterial infusion chemotherapy in patients with T3 esophageal squamous carcinoma after radical surgery].
OBJECTIVE
To studying the porgnostic factors after curative esophagetomy for the thoracic segment T3 esophageal after radical surgery.


METHODS
190 patients suffering from T3 squamous carcinoma of lower thoracic esophagus who underwent radical surgery from January 1990 to January 1999, 158 males and 32 females, aged 62.98 (40 approximately 81), were divided into 2 groups: 108 patients (experimental group, T3N0M0 56 cases and T3N1M0 52 cases) underwent surgery and arterial infusion (cisplatin 80 mg/m(2) and fluorouracil (800 mg/m(2)) with or without epirubicin since 3 approximately 4 weeks postoperatively, the interval of each periods is 4 - 6 weeks. and the other 82 patients (T3N0M0 48 cases and T3N1M0 34 cases) underwent surgery only. Fifty-six out of the 108 cases in the experimental group (T3N0M0 26 cases and T3N1M0 30 cases) underwent 3 periods of chemotherapy for less than 3 periods of chemotherapy with an interval between 2 periods of 4 approximately 6 weeks, and the other 52 patients (T3N0M0 30 cases and T3N1M0 22 cases) underwent chemotherapy for 3 periods or over. All cases were followed up for more than 5 years. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to analyze the survival rate. Cox regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of prognosis.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in the overall long-term survival rate between the experimental group and control group, however, the survival rate of those receiving 3 periods of chemotherapy and over was significantly higher than those receiving less than 3 periods of chemotherapy Lymph node metastatic status was an important factor in prognosis of esophageal squamous carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Without severe side effects, postoperative chemotherapy by transcatheter arterial infusion prolongs the survival rate of the patients with esophageal squamous carcinoma who have been previously treated by radical surgery.
Liu
Bao-dong
BD
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China. ryouhoutou@yahoo.com.cn
Zhi
Xiu-yi
XY
Xu
Qing-sheng
QS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models
D015251:Epirubicin; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil