Analysis of long-term effect of platinum alone chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma without operation

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects of platinum alone chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma without operation.Methods Form April 2008 to February 2010,47 initial treatment patients with esophageal carcinoma were treated by platinum alone chemotherapy (cisplatin or nedaplatin 20 mg/m2,one times per weeks) and conventional fractionated radiation therapy (200 cGy per fraction,2 times per day,5 days per week,to a total dose of 6 000-7 000 cGy).Results 1-,2-,3-,4-year overall survival rates were 63.83 ％ (30/47),40.43 ％ (19/47),38.30 ％ (18/47),30.77 ％ (4/13).4-year survival rate of 13 cases with lymph node metastasis was 0,it was lower than that of cases without lymph node metastasis (40 ％,4/10),the difference was statistically significant (x2 =6.295,P =0.012).The 3-year survival rates in cisplatin or nedaplatin combined with radiotherapy group were 31.25 ％ (5/16) and 41.94 ％ (13/31),the difference was not statistically significant (x2 =0.510,P =0.475).Conclusion Low doses of platinum alone chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy for the treatment of esophageal cancer are safe,but long-term efficacy needs to be confirmed in larger clinical trials. Key words: Esophageal neoplasms; Radiotherapy; Drug therapy; Prognosis