Abstract:
Objective :To compare the curative and adverse effect between the late-course accelerated hyperfractionation(LCAHF),LCAF plus synergistic chemotherapy(LCAHF+C)and conventional fractionation(CF)on esophageal cancer.
Methods :A total of 150 patients with squamous carcinoma of thoracic esophagus were randomly divided into three groups,i.e.,a)the CF group:the patients were given irradiation at 2.0 Gy/f,5 times a week,up to a total dose of 60 Gy;b)the LCAHF group:the patients were first irradiated with CF to 30 Gy,then followed by 1.5 Gy/f b.i.d.,at an interval of more than 6 hours,till a total dose of 60 Gy and c)the LCAHF+C group:the radiotherapy technique was the same as the LCAHF group,but a dose of weekly 20mg DDP and 500mg 5-Fu were added simultaneously for 5 weeks.
Results :All the groups completed their treatment course.The 1-,2-,3-,4-,5-and 6-year survival rates in the three groups was 54%,30%,18%,18%,12% and 10% in CF group,76%,56%,44%,42%,34% and 30% in LCAHF group and 82%,62%,50%,44%,38% and 34%,respectively.The 1-,2-,3-,4-,5-and 6-year local control rates in the three groups was 40%,32%,26%,24%,22% and 16% in CF group,72%,60%,56%,54%,48% and 42% in LCAHF group and 78%,66%,60%,56%,50% and 46% in LCAHF+C group,respectively.There was an obvious better
Results in the latter two groups(P<0.01)compared to the first one,though no any statistical difference was found between the latter two groups(P<0.05).The acute toxic effect was severer in the LCAHF+C group than in the other two,with the difference significant between the LCAHF+C and CF group,but not between the LCAHF and CF group.The tolerance of the patients in the LCAHF group was better than in the LCAHF+C group.There was no significant difference in late complications and cause of death between the three groups.The main cause of death was local recurrence and uncontrolled primary disease,which were significantly lower in the LCAHF and LCAHF+C groups than in the CF group.
Conclusion s:Both late-course accelerated hyperfractionation(LCAHF)and LCAHF radiotherapy plus chemotherapy can significantly improve the local control and survival rate of esophageal cancer,but the toxicity has increased in the latter.It did not showed more beneficence.