title: Phase I/II study of hypofractioned radiation with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for clinical T3-4N0-1M0 stage esophageal carcinoma.
abstract: Compared to conventional fractionated-dose radiotherapy, high hypofractionated-dose radiotherapy could yield tumoricidal effects. However, few clinical trials of hypofractionated radiotherapy in loco-regionally advanced incurable esophageal cancer at present have yet been performed. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of hypofractioned radiation with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for clinical T3-4N0-1M0 stage esophageal carcinoma. From September 2003 to December 2005, 45 patients with locally advanced esophageal carcinoma were grouped and received three-dimensional conformal hypofractioned radiotherapy (3D-CRT) whose fractionated dose was gradually increase per group. Radiotherapy was administered to a total dose of from 50 to 54 Gy (fractionated dose of from 3.0 to 6.0 Gy, 3 times weekly), over a 3-4 week period. And patients received 4 cycles chemotherapy. The median follow-up period for survivors was 38 months. Treatment tolerance rate was 78.8% with daily dose of from 3 to 5 Gy. There are 21.2% patients occurring Grade ≥ 3 acute toxicities. But patients couldn't tolerate daily dose of 6 Gy (55.6%). The 1-year, 2-year and 3-year local control rates were 62%, 49% and 39% respectively. And the 1-year, 2-year and 3-year overall survival rates were 34%, 21% and 9% respectively. The median overall survival time was 17 months. At the time of following up, 13 patients (31.0%) had occurred esophageal late complications, with mainly esophageal perforation, hemorrhage or stenosis, including initial stenosis aggravation. Therefore hypofractionated irradiation was thought to be feasible for clinical T3-4N0-1M0 stage esophageal carcinoma. And daily dose of ≤5 Gy was comparatively suitable in hypofractionated irradiation for esophageal carcinoma, and the patients tolerated well. But further research was in need also.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 44# Wenhua Xi Road, Ji'nan, Shandong, 250012, PR China.
authors.forename: Y-P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: J-B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: L-K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: E-C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000379:methods*; D015996:Survival Rate