Multidisciplinary treatment for esophageal carcinoma

A cooperative study was performed to evaluate the effects of bleomycin (BLM) and tegafur combined with preoperative irradiation on esophageal carcinoma. The drugs were selected by randomization. A solid form of BLM was administered during the operation for patients of both groups. From July 1978 to December 1980, 338 cases were entered in this study. Resective surgery was performed in these patients. Operative death occurred in 18 patients; it was higher in the BLM group. Cases excluding operative deaths were used to calculate the cumulative survival rate. There was no difference in fluoroscopic findings, age distribution or sex ratio between these two groups. In regard to the effect of radiation observed histologically, more patients in the tegafur group showed a marked effect. The tegafur group tended to have a better survival rate after surgery, but the difference was not significant Tegafur was easier to administer in suppository form.