Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy combined with concurrent chemotherapy for locally advanced esophageal carcinoma

OBJECTIVE:To observe the acute side effects and clinical results of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy(3DCRT) combined with chemotherapy for esophageal carcinoma.METHODS:Totally 62 patients with esophageal carcinoma received 3DCRT combined with concurrent chemotherapy of LFP.The side effects and clinical results were observed.RESULTS:1) Of all the patients,61 completed radiotherapy,29 patients completed 3 or more than 3 cycles of chemotherapy,18 completed 2 cycles and 15 completed only 1 cycle.2) The acute toxic reactions were marrow depression and gastrointestinal tract reaction mainly,49(79.03%) patients developed the side effects of nausea,vomiting and constipation,and the incidence of leucopenia was 80.65%(50/62).Fifty patients(80.65%) developed acute radiation esophagitis with 88.00%(44/50) of grade 1 and grade 2,and 24 patients(38.71%) developed acute radiation pneumonitis with 54.17%(13/24)of grade 1.3)The 1-,2-,3-year local control rates were 89.97%,70.66% and 70.66%,respectively.The 1-,2-,3-year overall survival rates were 88.33%,55.78% and 52.68%,respectively,and the median survival time was 28 months.For the patients whose maximum trans diameter of GTV was less and more than 4 cm,the 1-,2-,3-year survival rates were 96.88%,74.27%,68.08% and 78.57%,34.83% and 34.83%,respectively(χ2=7.48,P=0.006 2).CONCLUSIONS:3DCRT combined with concurrent chemotherapy of LFP has its feasibility and the majority of patients could tolerate the treatment.This pattern of treatment could make well local control rate and survival rate,and the clinic effect has the potential of improvement,but the control of metastasis has no improvement.