Clinical study of late-course stereotactic conformal radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment esophageal cancer

Objective: To evaluate the curative effect of late course stereotactic conformal radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of esophageal carcinoma. Methods: Forty-six patients(treatment group) were treated by late-course stereotactic conformal radiotherapy from April 2001 to April 2002. The treatment regimen consisted of conventional radiotherapy first (40Gy , perpendicular A-P portals),followed by stereotactic conformal radiotherapy (20~30Gy/6~7w) combined with three cycles chemotherapy(DDP +5-Fu).One hundred and six patients (control group ) were treated by conventional radiotherapy (40Gy , perpendicular A-P portals and 20~30Gy iso-center). 6~15 MV X-rays were adopted. Results: In the treatment group and control group the recent effective rate were 88.9% and 78.3%.The 1,3 year local control and overall survival rateswere 73.3%, 57.8%;62.5% ,43.2% and 73.3%,51.1%;61.5%,38.4%(P0.05 ).The gastrointestinal tract toxicities and bone marrow inhibition in control group were obviously,and all patients completed the planned treatment with expectant treatment. Conclusion: Late cours stereotactic conformal radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy can raise the effective rate and overall survival rate in middle late stage esophageal carcinomas.