Chemo-radiation outcomes for esophageal cancer: A reflection from a tertiary cancer center on selection of patients for more aggressive therapy

• Published in: Indian journal of cancer Vol. 57; no. 1; pp. 84 - 88
• Main Authors: Manur, Janaki, Sebastian, M, David, Savitha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01-01-2020; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cancer patients; Cancer therapies; Cancer treatment; Carboplatin; Care and treatment; Chemoradiotherapy - methods; Chemotherapy; Disease; Diseases; Esophageal cancer; Esophageal Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Female; Humans; Male; Metastasis; Middle Aged; Patient compliance; Patient outcomes; Patients; Radiation (Physics); Radiation therapy; Socioeconomic factors; Surgery; Tertiary Care Centers; Treatment Outcome; Chemo-radiation; outcome; esophageal cancer
• ISSN: 0019-509X; 1998-4774
• DOI: 10.4103/ijc.IJC_474_18

Introduction: Most esophageal cancer patients present with poor nutritional status and may not tolerate radical treatment.
Aim: We aim to identify patients who are good candidates for chemo-radiation (CTRT).
Materials and Methods: Fifty-four patients treated with CTRT were followed up for a mean period of 28 months and factors affecting the outcome were analyzed along with the recurrence pattern.
Results:Forty-eight patients (88%) received CTRT and all completed treatment as scheduled. Eighteen (32%), 15 (27%) patients were alive with and without disease, respectively, at 28 months while 20 (37%) were dead. There was no statistically significant correlation between local failure and any of the factors like length, grade of the tumor, and chemotherapy received.
Conclusion: Esophageal cancer patients present at an advanced stage and hence careful selection of patients for radical CTRT is very important for providing relatively longer disease-free interval. Equally important is the close monitoring of patients during treatment which helps in completing the planned treatment which translates into a better long-term outcome.