[Pilot study of concomitant TS-1/CDGP radiotherapy for esophageal cancer]

Although surgery is treatment of choice for esophageal cancer, radiochemotherapy is being employed throughout Japan for the purpose of improving patient QOL. The results of this therapy are reported to be comparable to those associated with surgical treatment. However, since concomitant 5-FU/CDDP radiotherapy, currently the treatment of choice when implementing radiochemotherapy, is associated with a comparatively high incidence of gastrointestinal disorders and requires continuous intravenous infusion for 24 hours, it lowers the level of patient QOL. We have proposed a clinical study of concomitant TS-1/CDGP radiotherapy for the purpose of maintaining patient QOL and improving outcome. We conducted a pilot study prior to the phase I and II studies. The study was conducted on six cases and favorable results were obtained, consisting of a CR rate of 66.7% and a two-year survival rate of 50%. Although bone marrow inhibition was observed as an adverse side effect, gastrointestinal disorders that were discernible to the patients were extremely mild, and patient QOL was able to be maintained. CR was observed in 2 cases who were positive for DPD as determined by immunostaining. We are planning on conducting phase I and II studies in the future based on the potential for this treatment to contribute to the preservation of patient QOL and improve prognosis.