Adjuvant therapy for resectable oesophageal cancer: results of a pilot study

119 operable patients with an epidermoid oesophageal carcinoma were treated preoperatively with a combination of chemotherapy (cisplatin 80 to 100 mg/m2: 2 cycles) and radiotherapy (two courses of 18.5 Gy). The response rate was evaluated on resected specimens. The toxicity was moderate. The pathological study of the 101 resected specimens showed no residual tumor (CR) in 24 patients and partial response (PR) in 46. The response rate (CR + PR) was better in stage I (89%) than in stages II and III. A controlled study is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this protocol as regards survival.