title: Long-term results of radiochemotherapy for solitary lymph node metastasis after curative resection of esophageal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the long-term efficacy and toxicity of definitive radiochemotherapy for solitary lymph node metastasis after curative surgery of esophageal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review of 35 patients who underwent definitive radiochemotherapy at Tohoku University Hospital between 2000 and 2009 for solitary lymph node metastasis after curative esophagectomy with lymph node dissection for esophageal cancer. Radiotherapy doses ranged from 60 to 66 Gy (median, 60 Gy). Concurrent chemotherapy was platinum based in all patients. The endpoints of the present study were overall survival, cause-specific survival, progression-free survival, irradiated-field control, overall tumor response, and prognostic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median observation period for survivors was 70.0 months. The 5-year overall survival was 39.2% (median survival, 39.0 months). The 5-year cause-specific survival, progression-free survival, and irradiated-field control were 43.3%, 31.0% and 59.9%, respectively. Metastatic lesion, size of the metastatic lymph node, and performance status before radiochemotherapy were significantly correlated with prognosis. Complete response and partial response were observed in 22.9% and 57.1% of the patients, respectively. There was no Grade 3 or higher adverse effect based on the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE v3.0) in the late phase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our study findings, approximately 40% of patients with solitary lymph node metastasis after curative resection for esophageal cancer have a chance of long-term survival with definitive radiochemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. kjingu-jr@rad.med.tohoku.ac.jp
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jingu
authors.forename: Hisanori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ariga
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nemoto
authors.forename: Kakutaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narazaki
authors.forename: Rei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Umezawa
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koto
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugawara
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kubozono
authors.forename: Go
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miyata
authors.forename: Ko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Onodera
authors.forename: Shogo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D016019:Survival Analysis; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; C053989:nedaplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil