[Clinical significance of chemotherapy and chemo-radiotherapy in patients with metastatic esophageal cancer].
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the clinical significance of chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) and chemotherapy (CT) in patients with primary metastatic esophageal cancer.


METHODS
Twenty-six patients with esophageal cancer received CRT (n =21) or CT alone (n=5) as a first treatment for para-aortic lymph node and/or hematogenous metastases. The therapeutic effect, duration of treatment, changes in performance status before and after treatment, and survival were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
The median duration of treatment was 2.9 months for CRT and 2.3 months for CT. The response rate was 76% in patients who underwent CRT and 20% in patients who underwent CT. In 18 patients (69%), the level of performance status showed no change after treatment in comparison with that before treatment. The median survival time was 5.6 months after CRT and 5.8 months after CT (p=0.91).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the majority of patients with extremely advanced esophageal cancer can tolerate CRT or CT well without compromising their performance status within their limited life expectancy.
Mitsuhashi
Toshitake
T
Dept. of Digestive Tract and General Surgery, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University.
Miyazaki
Tatsuya
T
Sakimoto
Takehiko
T
Kubo
Norio
N
Ishiguro
Toru
T
Okada
Norimichi
N
Yokoyama
Masaru
M
Ishibashi
Keiichiro
K
Matsuki
Moriyuki
M
Takahashi
Takeo
T
Ishida
Hideyuki
H
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015996:Survival Rate
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents