[Local hyperthermo-chemotherapy plus ethanol for advanced esophageal cancer]

Eight esophageal squamous cell cancer patients were treated with local hyperthermochemotherapy plus ethanol in addition to bypass surgery and supraclavicular esophagostomy. Local hyperthermochemotherapy plus ethanol treatment was as follows: The esophagus was perfused for one hour using esophagostomy with warmed saline (42-44 degrees C) containing 6-10% ethanol, the overflowing saline was aspirated. Simultaneously, 15 mg Bleomycin or 10 mg Peplomycin was administered intravenously and 5 mg Bleomycin or Peplomycin was administered directly to the esophageal site. This procedure was repeated twice a week for a total of 10 to 24 times. Six of the 8 patients (75%) thus treated showed a shortening of the duration of the shadow defect in X-radiograms. In one case, the lesion was removed and the patient is doing well 9 months after the operation.