Application of radiotherapy concurrent with chemotherapy in recurrence from esophageal carcinoma after radiotherapy

Objective To investigate the value of radiotherapy concurrent with chemotherapy in recurrence from esophageal carcinoma af- ter radiotherapy. Methods Total 97 cases of patients with recurrence from esophageal carcinoma after radiotherapy from Nov 2010 to Dec 2012 were randomly divided into treatment group( three dimensional conformal radiotherapy concurrent with chemotherapy,48 cases) and control group( radiotherapy,49 cases). The response rate,first 3 year survival rate and adverse reaction occurrence rate were compared between those two groups. Results The response rate was 77. 3%( 34 /44) in treatment group and 80. 4%( 37 /46) in control group. There was not significant difference( χ2= 0. 135,P = 0. 713). The 1,2,3 year survival rate were slightly higher in treatment group than those in control group. However, the difference was not significant( P 0. 05). The adverse reaction occurrence was significantly higher in treatment group compared with control group( P 0. 05). Conclusion Radiotherapy concurrent with chemotherapy is an effective therapy in recurrence from esophageal carcinoma af- ter radiotherapy. However,it should be applied after careful consideration for its more obvious adverse reactions compared with radiotherapy.