Synchronic radiotherapy-chemotherapy compared with radiotherapy alone in patients with upper and middle esophageal cancer

Objective To compare the short term effectivity, and survival rates of hyperfractionated radiotherapy plus chemotherapy concurrutly with hyperfractionated radiotherapy alone in patients with upper and middle esophageal cancer. Metheds:One hundred and fifty eight patients with upper and middle esophageal cancer were randomized into two groups where 75 treated by chemoradiotherapy(CRT) and 83 by radiotherapy(RT) alone. The chemotherapy included cispatin 20 mg/m 2 on d1 d5 infusion, 5 fluorouracil 500 mg/m 2 on d1 d5 by continuous infusion for 6 8 hours.Hyperfractionated radiotherapy were similar in the two groups:1.3 Gy/f,twice a day.Results 1 , 3 , 5 year suvival rates were 70.7%,40.0% and 24.0% for CRT and 51.8%,21.7%,10.8% for RT, respectively. The difference is statistically significant. The toxic and side effects are tolerable in the two groups. Conclusion Concurrut chemotherapy with 5 fluorouracil, cisplatin combimed hyperfractionated radiotherapy may improve the outcome of esophageal cancer, with the toxic and side effects being tolerated by all patients.