title: Paclitaxel and cisplatin combined with intensity-modulated radiotherapy for upper esophageal carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and concurrent paclitaxel plus cisplatin (TP regimen) for upper esophageal carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  36 patients of upper esophageal carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were treated with IMRT (median 60 Gy) combined with concurrent TP regimen chemotherapy. The Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed in statistical analysis. Toxicities were recorded according to the NCI CTC version 3.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  36 patients aged 43-73 years (median 57 years). The median follow-up period was 14.0 months. The 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 83.3% and 42.8% respectively. The median progression-free survival (PFS) time and overall survival (OS) time were 12.0 (95% CI: 7.8-16.2 months) and 18.0 months (95% CI: 9.9-26.1 months), respectively. Grade 3 neutropenia, radiation-induced esophagitis and radiodermatitis were observed in 5 (13.9%), 3 (8.3%) and 8 (22.2%) patients respectively. There were two treatment-related deaths due to esophageal perforation and hemorrhea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For those patients with upper esophageal carcinoma, IMRT combined with concurrent TP regimen chemotherapy was an effective treatment. However, more attention should be paid to the occurrence of perforation and hemorrhea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Oncology and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lingli
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yongsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yongmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Yuquan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Youling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin