PREOPERATIVE HYPERTHERMIA COMBINED WITH CHEMOTHERAPY AND IRRADIATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH ESOPHAGEAL-CARCINOMA

Aims and Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the combined effects of hyperthermia, chemotherapy and irradiation on esop hageal cancer. Methods and material: Since 1978, we have clinically ap plied hyperthermia combined with chemotherapy and irradiation (HCR the rapy), to patients with carcinoma of the esophagus. The clinical resul ts of 136 patients receiving preoperative HCR therapy were then compar ed with those of 107 cases undergoing preoperative chemo-radiotherapy (CR). Results: A histological examination of the resected esophagus af ter preoperative treatment revealed that 65.4% and 50.5% of the patien ts responded markedly (no viable cancer cells) and moderately (more th an two thirds of all cancer cells destroyed) to HCR and CR therapies, respectively (p <0.05). The five-year survival rates were 22.3% and 13 .7% in the HCR and CR groups, respectively, and the difference was sta tistically significant (p<0.01). In particular, for the patients class ified as TNM Stages III and IV, a significantly longer survival period was obtained HCR therapy (p<0.05). In addition, no severe effects wer e encountered in the patients given just hyperthermia. Conclusion: Our clinical results suggest that preoperative hyperthermo-chemo-radiothe rapy shows great promise for treatment of patients with advanced carci noma of the esophagus.