Chemo-radiation outcomes for esophageal cancer: A reflection from a tertiary cancer center on selection of patients for more aggressive therapy.

Abstract

Most esophageal cancer patients present with poor nutritional status and may not tolerate radical treatment. We aim to identify patients who are good candidates for chemo-radiation (CTRT). Fifty-four patients treated with CTRT were followed up for a mean period of 28 months and factors affecting the outcome were analyzed along with the recurrence pattern. Forty-eight patients (88%) received CTRT and all completed treatment as scheduled. Eighteen (32%), 15 (27%) patients were alive with and without disease, respectively, at 28 months while 20 (37%) were dead. There was no statistically significant correlation between local failure and any of the factors like length, grade of the tumor, and chemotherapy received. Esophageal cancer patients present at an advanced stage and hence careful selection of patients for radical CTRT is very important for providing relatively longer disease-free interval. Equally important is the close monitoring of patients during treatment which helps in completing the planned treatment which translates into a better long-term outcome.