Proton beam therapy combined with concurrent chemotherapy for esophageal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the outcomes of proton beam therapy (PBT) concurrently combined with chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil for esophageal cancer.


METHODS
Forty consecutive patients (stage I in 16 patients, II in 9 and III in 15) treated between 2008 and 2012 were evaluated. A total dose of 60 Gray equivalents (GyE) in 30 fractions was delivered, and an additional boost of 4-10 GyE was given when residual tumors were suspected. The median follow-up time was 24 months (range=7-66 months).


RESULTS
No cardio-pulmonary toxicities of grade 3 or higher were observed. Recurrences were observed in 16 patients, and the 2-year rates of disease-specific survival and locoregional control were 77% and 66%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Irrespective of the small sample size and short follow-up time of the study, proton beam therapy combined with chemo therapy seems to be feasible for esophageal cancer.
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Tsukuba, Faculty of Medicine, Ibaraki, Japan hishikawa@pmrc.tsukuba.ac.jp.
Hitoshi
H
Ishikawa
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Tsukuba, Faculty of Medicine, Ibaraki, Japan.
Takayuki
T
Hashimoto
Department of Gastroenterology, University of Tsukuba, Faculty of Medicine, Ibaraki, Japan.
Toshikazu
T
Moriwaki
Department of Gastroenterology, University of Tsukuba, Faculty of Medicine, Ibaraki, Japan.
Ichinosuke
I
Hyodo
Gastroenterological and Hepatobiliary Surgery, University of Tsukuba, Faculty of Medicine, Ibaraki, Japan.
Katsuji
K
Hisakura
Gastroenterological and Hepatobiliary Surgery, University of Tsukuba, Faculty of Medicine, Ibaraki, Japan.
Hideo
H
Terashima
Gastroenterological and Hepatobiliary Surgery, University of Tsukuba, Faculty of Medicine, Ibaraki, Japan.
Nobuhiro
N
Ohkohchi
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Tsukuba, Faculty of Medicine, Ibaraki, Japan.
Toshiki
T
Ohno
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Tsukuba, Faculty of Medicine, Ibaraki, Japan.
Hirokazu
H
Makishima
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Tsukuba, Faculty of Medicine, Ibaraki, Japan.
Masashi
M
Mizumoto
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Tsukuba, Faculty of Medicine, Ibaraki, Japan.
Kayoko
K
Ohnishi
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Tsukuba, Faculty of Medicine, Ibaraki, Japan.
Toshiyuki
T
Okumura
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Tsukuba, Faculty of Medicine, Ibaraki, Japan.
Hideyuki
H
Sakurai
D000368:Aged; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D061766:Proton Therapy
Proton beam therapy; concurrent chemoradiotherapy; esophageal cancer; late toxicity; survival