Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology
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Comparative Study
Primary chemo-radiotherapy and selective oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer: goal of cure with organ preservation.
The role of definitive chemo-radiotherapy in squamous cell oesophageal carcinoma has been established by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG). We have studied a modification of the RTOG chemo-radiotherapy protocol in patients with any histologic type of oesophageal carcinoma. We planned oesophagectomy for patients with post-treatment positive endoscopic biopsy or <75% regression on CAT scan, or with resectable local recurrence. Study end-points were histologic response, toxicity, oesophagectomy and survival rates after primary chemo-radiotherapy. ⋯ It is possible to cure oesophageal cancer with chemo-radiotherapy and selective oesophagectomy, and achieve organ preservation in the majority of long term survivors.