COMBINED RADIOCHEMOTHERAPY FOR POSTOPERATIVE RECURRENCE OF ESOPHAGEALCANCER

Postoperative recurrences are common after resection for oesophageal c ancer. From January 1986 to September 1993 31 patients (30 males, one female, mean (SD) age: 57.5 (8.8) years) were treated for locoregional recurrence (n = 24), metastases (n = 6) or both (n = 1) occurring 15. 0 (12.6) months after initial surgery. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy w ere combined in all cases. Symptomatic improvement was seen in 23 case s (74%) and lasted (excluding treatment period) for 6.3 (4) months. Ob jective tumoral response was seen in 20 patients (65%) including eight (26%) complete responses. Survival rates were at respectively six mon ths, one, two, and three gears: 70.7%, 47.1%, 17.1%, 4.3%. In conclusi on, these results show that combined therapy could have a beneficial s ymptomatic effect and can be associated with prolonged survival in pat ients with postoperative recurrences of oesophageal cancer.