Comparison of three treatment strategies for esophageal cancer within a single institution

Fifty-seven patients with esophageal cancer were treated with curative intent between January 1979 and June 1985. Seventeen were treated with radical radiation therapy alone (TD 4000-6500 cGy in 200-250 cGy fractions). Twenty-five were treated using radiation therapy (3000 cGy in 200 cGy fractions, day 1-19, and 2600-3000 cGy in 200 cGy fractions, day 50-68) and concomitant chemotherapy (5-FU and Cis-platinum). Fifteen were treated preoperatively by radiation therapy (3000 cGy at 200 cGy fractions) and concomitant chemotherapy (5-FU and Cis-platinum) followed by esophagectomy in 2-3 weeks. Chi square tests showed no significant baseline differences between the patients in the three different treatment groups with respect to A.J.C. stage, T status, location of tumor or histology. Median survival and 2-year survival for the three treatment groups were RT alone: 5 months and 0%, RT and chemotherapy: 12 months and 37%, RT, chemotherapy and surgery 13 months and 38%. A Cox multivariate analysis revealed significant predictor variables for increased survival were treatment strategy, RT dose delivered and T status. Increased local control was seen with either multimodality approach compared to radiation therapy alone. Our data suggests that a multimodality approach is superior as a curative treatment strategy, compared to RT alone, in esophageal cancer. In our series no significant differences were seen with respect to treatment outcome between the two multimodality approaches used.