Whole three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the therapeutic effect and safety of whole three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) combined with late course accelerated fractionation radiotherapy (LCAFR) on patients with esophageal carcinoma. METHODS: Ninty-eight cases with esophageal carcinoma were randomly divided into an observing and a control group. The patients in the observing group (48 cases)were treated by whole 3DCRT,in 2 Gy/f,5 fractions/w,to a dose of DT 30-36 Gy,then 1.3 Gy/f,twice a day to a total dose of DT 60-66 Gy/(6-6.5)w. The patients in the control group(50 cases) were treated by conventional radiotherapy in 2 Gy/f,5 fractions/w,to a total dose of DT 60-70 Gy/(6-7)w. The clinical efficacy and radiation toxicities were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The 1,2 and 3 year tumor local and survival rates in the observing group significantly improved compared with the control group,being 87. 5%,70. 8%,58. 3%,vs 60.0%,42. 0%,32.0% and 89. 6%,68.8%,56.3% vs 58.0%,44. 0%,26.0%,respectively(P0.05). The side effects increased in the observing group,but there was no significiant difference between the two groups(P0.05). CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of whole course 3DCRT combined with LCAFR for esophageal carcinoma is superior to conventional radiotherapy,and radiation toxicities could be endured.