We experienced three cases of advanced esophageal cancer which were successfully treated by chemotherapy with CDDP and 5FU added radiation from both outside and inside of the esophagus.
Case 1: A 50-year-old man with cancer of the intrathoracic middle portion of esophagus was suspected of having an invasion into the aorta, and underwent radiochemotherapy. After the treatment, his clinical staging came to Stage III which was judged curatively operable. Lymph nodes dissection with total excision of the thoracic esophagus was carried out. No histological remnant was confirmed. The patient is doing well, as of 18 months after the operation.
Case 2: A 68-year-old man with Stage III cancer of the intrathoracic esophagus underwent radiochemotherapy, because he refused operation. Biopsy after the treatment disclosed that the cancer disappeared. There has been no sign of recurrence, as of 12 months after the treatment.
Case 3: A 48-year-old man with cancer of the intrathoracic middle to inferior portion of esophagus was suspected of having metastases to the periaortic region and intraperitoneal lymph nodes. It was thought that a curative resection was impossible and radiochemotherapy was performed. After the treatment the tumor decreased in size. The patient is doing well under the treatment, as of six months after the operation.
In the treatment of patients with advanced esophageal cancer, an appropriate selection of the treatment is important by considering the quality of life of the patient. Radiochemotherapy is an effective therapeutic method for such patients.