title: Concurrent FP (5-fluorouracil, cisplatin) Chemoradiotherapy for Patients with Esophageal Cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The outcomes of a surgical approach for patients with an esophageal carcinoma remain unsatisfactory despite its high complication rates. We conducted a phase II trial, using combined FP (5-fluorouracil and cisplatin) chemotherapy and concurrent radiotherapy, as a definitive therapy for patients with esophageal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with histologically proven esophageal cancer were enrolled onto this study. The treatment consisted of four courses of chemotherapy and six and a half weeks of radiotherapy. The patients received chemotherapy in weeks 1, 5, 12 and 16 (5-fluorouracil 1, 000 mg/m2 on days 1 to 4 and cisplatin 75 mg/m2 on day 1). Radiotherapy was administered at a dose of 59.4 Gy, in five 1.8 Gy fractions a week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 22 eligible patients entered the study. Of the 19 evaluable patients, a complete response occurred in 7 (37%), and a partial response in 8 (42%). After a median follow-up of 35 months, the overall survival rate was 32% at three years and the median survival was 11 months. Fourteen (64%) received planned dose of radio-therapy and 13 (59%) received more than three courses of chemotherapy. However, there was no difference in three-year survival rates between the patients that received less than three courses of chemotherapy and those that received three or more courses (31% vs. 32%). The major treatment related toxicity was mucositis, which developed in every patient, with grades III or IV in thirteen (59%) patients. During the treatment, the patients lost, on average, 3.8% of their body weight. The mean hospital stay was 23 days, with a total duration of treatment of 74 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S: Concurrent FP chemoradiotherapy was effective as a definitive therapy for patients with esophageal cancer. The major toxicity was mucositis. Although the treatment was relatively feasible, a randomized trial of reduced courses of chemotherapy is warranted.
authors.forename: Min Ok
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eui Sil
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Ji Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Joung Muk
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Leem
authors.forename: Il Young
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Won Dong
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Woo Yoon
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seung Taik
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ki Hyeong
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy; Esophageal neoplasm