[Evaluation of multi-modality treatment for the patients with advanced esophageal cancer]

Hyperthermia has been proved to be intensely cytotoxic to malignant cells when combined with anticancer agents and irradiation. We have applied hyperthermo-chemo-radio-therapy (HCR) using a radiofrequency system with an endotract electrode to the patients with advanced esophageal cancer. In this study, 132 patients with advanced esophageal cancer with invasion to the neighboring structures, who underwent non-curative operation, were analysed. The markedly effective cases was observed in 12.2% in HCR group, while in 2.5% in chemoradiotherapy (CR) group, microscopically. The survival rate of the HCR group was significantly better than that of the CR group (p < 0.05). Pre- and post-operative leukocytopenia caused by preoperative treatment was not found to be a risk factor of postoperative complication. It is important to continue to clarify the factors influencing the effectiveness of preoperative HCR in the future. We hope that HCR will play an even more important role in treatment of esophageal cancer.