Background: We undertook a multicentre phase II trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of primary chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation for localised adenocarcinoma or squamous carcinoma of the oesophagus.
Patients and methods: Chemotherapy comprised five 3-weekly cycles of cisplatin and protracted continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil, with conformally planned radiotherapy commencing at the start of the fifth cycle.
Results: The planned treatment programme was completed by 39 of 72 patients (54%), and a further 13% completed chemotherapy and proceeded to surgical oesophagectomy. Response rates to chemotherapy and to the entire treatment programme were 47% [95% confidence interval (CI) 34% to 60%] and 56% (CI 43% to 68%). The dysphagia score improved in 54% of patients. The median survival duration was 14.6 months with 1- and 2-year survival rates of 58.7% and 44.1%, respectively. Grade III/IV chemotherapy-related toxicity occurred in 38% of patients, and there were no treatment-related deaths.
Conclusions: This is a feasible and active treatment regimen providing palliative benefits for patients with poor-prognosis localised oesophageal cancer.