SIMULTANEOUS COMBINATION THERAPY OF CARBOPLATIN AND RADIATION FOR PATIENTS WITH CARCINOMA OF THE ESOPHAGUS

Background/Aims: Carboplatin is a less nephrotoxic analog of cisplatin with a significant effect against a variety of malignancies including carcinoma of the esophagus. Furthermore, the supra-additive effect be tween carboplatin, and radiation has been reported in both clinical an d experimental studies. Methods and Materials: Seven patients with car cinoma of the esophagus underwent a combined therapy of carboplatin (3 0 mg/m(2), total 1500-2000 mg) and radiation. (1.6 Gy/day, five days/w eek, total 50-70 Gy). Results: Six patients had a complete tumor remis sion while in, the remaining patient a partial response was observed. In. five of these six cases, no evidence of recurrence has been recogn ized at 9-13 months after the treatment. Two patients survived without arty evidence of recurrent disease 43 and 57 months after the initiat ion of the treatment. The major side effects were leukopenia and throm bocytopenia, which were grade II to IV but not fatal. However, no sign ificant renal toxicity, gastroin-testinal disorders nor liver toxicity were recognized. Conclusions: These data thus indicate the clinical u tility of the combined therapy of radiation and carboplatin for patien ts with carcinoma of the esophagus.