title: [Clinical significance of chemotherapy and chemo-radiotherapy in patients with metastatic esophageal cancer].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Digestive Tract and General Surgery, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University.
authors.forename: Toshitake
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mitsuhashi
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Takehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakimoto
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishiguro
authors.forename: Norimichi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Keiichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
authors.forename: Moriyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuki
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishida
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents