Cisplatin, Vindesine, Pepleomycin and Concurrent Radiation Therapy following Esophagectomy with Lymph Adenectomy for Patients with an Esophageal Carcinoma

Abstract

Between 1986 and 1991, 35 patients with esophageal cancer (TNM stages II–IV) underwent transthoracic esophagectomy with lymph adenectomy and were subsequently treated with 5,000 cGy of radiation (days 1–40) and concurrently with two courses of chemotherapy (cisplatin, vindesine and pepleomycin, days 21-26 and 49-54). Results were compared with those of 26 historical control patients, treated with radiation since 1981. Tolerance in all patients was good. The survival rate at 5 years was significantly improved for the multi-modality-treated patients (30.9 + 9.4%), as compared with findings in historical controls (5.1 + 4.8%). The concurrent chemoradiation therapy using these three drugs following extensive surgery is worthy of consideration for patients with a localized esophageal cancer.