title: Analysis of different fractionations of three-dimensional conformable radiotherapy for esophageal cancer.
abstract: This study aims to observe and discuss the curative and side effects of three different fractionation regimen of three-dimensional conformable radiotherapy (3DCRT) for esophageal cancer. A total of 169 untreated patients of esophageal cancer were randomized into three groups: groups A (conventional group, 2.0 Gy per time), B (2.5 Gy group, 2 Gy per time), and C (3.0 Gy group, 3.0 Gy per time), respectively. Groups A, B, and C are similar in terms of partial response (P = 0.35). However, the three groups had no significant differences in terms of the complete response (P = 0.63). The three-year survival rate of group B was higher than those of the other two groups, and the difference was significant (P = 0.047). For the three-year local control rate, that of group B was also higher than those of groups A and C, but the difference was not significant (P = 0.067). The incidence rate of 3 level esophagitis and bronchitis was highest in group C (P = 0.023 and P = 0.064). The 3 level tardive radioactive esophagitis in group C was higher than those in other two groups (P = 0.037 and P = 0.04). The incidence rate of the 3 level advanced lung reaction was also the highest in the three groups (P = 0.041). The effect is better and the side effect is tolerable for the 2.5 Gy per fraction, 5 times per week; thus, it can be used clinically for 3DCRT for esophageal carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Shijiazhuang City Shijiazhuang 050011, Hebei Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhiqian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Shijiazhuang City Shijiazhuang 050011, Hebei Province, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Shijiazhuang City Shijiazhuang 050011, Hebei Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiaofang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Shijiazhuang City Shijiazhuang 050011, Hebei Province, China.
authors.forename: Chaoxing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Shijiazhuang City Shijiazhuang 050011, Hebei Province, China.
authors.forename: Huijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Shijiazhuang City Shijiazhuang 050011, Hebei Province, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhao
keywords: Carcinoma; esophageal/radiotherapy; fractionation; radiotherapy; three-dimensional conformal