Results of Radiation Therapy for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness and prognostic factors for patients treated with postoperative radiation therapy following surgery or with radiation therapy alone for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 132 esophageal cancer patients treated with postoperative radiation therapy following surgery or patients who were treated with radiation therapy alone at our institution from 1989 to 2006. Thirty-five patients had stage II disease, 88 patients had stage III disease and nine patients had stage IV disease. Tumors were located at the upper esophagus in 18 patients, the mid esophagus in 81 patients and the distal esophagus in 33 patients. Sixty patients were treated with radiation therapy alone and 72 patients were treated with postoperative radiation therapy following surgery. Eight patients received a dose less than 40 Gy and 78 patients received a dose of 40 to 50 Gy. The remaining 46 patients received a dose of 50 to 60 Gy. The majority of patients who underwent postoperative radiation therapy received a dose of 45 Gy. Results: Actuarial survival rates for all of the patients at two years and five years were 24% and 5%, respectively. The median survival time was 11 months. Survival rates for patients who underwent postoperative RT at two years and five years were 29% and 8%, respectively. The corresponding survival rates for patients who received radiation alone were 18% and 2%, respectively. Survival rates at two years and five years were 43% and 15% for stage II disease, 22% and 2% for stage III disease and 0% and 0% for stage IV disease, respectively; these findings were statistically significant. Two-year survival rates for patients with upper, middle and distal esophageal cancer were 19, 29% and 22%, respectively. Although there was a trend of slightly better survival for middle esophageal tumors, this finding was not statistically significant. Complete response to radiation was achieved in 13 patients (22%) and partial response to radiation was achieved in 40 patients (67%) who received radiation alone. No response to radiation was noted in seven patients (12%). A statistically significant difference in survival rates was seen between patients that had a complete response and patients that had a partial response. Two-year survival rates for patients that had a complete response versus patients that had a partial response were 31% and 17%, respectively. There were no survivors for patients with no response as determined at two-year follow-up. Conclusion: We conclude that radiation therapy is an effective treatment for esophageal cancer. Stage and response to radiation therapy were noted to be prognostic factors. A more effective treatment modality is needed to improve long term survival because of the relatively dismal prognosis for this tumor.

식도 편평세포암의 방사선치료 결과

목적: 식도암에서 수술 후 방사선치료 및 방사선 단독 치료의 효과를 검증하고 예후 인자를 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 1989년부터 2006년까지 방사선치료를 받은 132명의 환자를 후향적으로 분석하였다. 35명은 제2병기 88명은 제3병기 9명은 제4병기 환자였다. 상부 식도암이 18명, 하부 식도암이 33명이었으며 중등부 식도암이 81명이었다. 60명에서는 방사선 단독 치료를 시행하였고 72명은 수술 후 방사선치료를 받았다. 8명에서는 40 Gy 이하를 조사하였으며 78명에서는 40내지 50 Gy를 조사하였다. 나머지 46명은 50내지 60 Gy를 조사 받았으며 수술 후 방사선치료를 받은 대부분의 환자는 45 Gy를 조사받았다. 결과: 전체 환자의 2년 및 5년 생존율은 24% 및 5%이었고 중앙 생존기간은 11개월이었다. 수술 후 방사선치료군의 2년 및 5년 생존율은 19% 및 8%, 방사선 단독치료군의 2년 및 5년 생존율은 18% 및 2%이었다. 제2병기, 제3 병기 및 제4병기 환자의 2년 및 5년 생존율은 각각 43% 및 15, 22% 및 2, 0% 및 0% 이었으며 이는 통계적으로 유의하였다. 상부, 중등부, 하부 식도암의 2년 생존율은 각각 19, 29, 22%이었으며 통계적으로 유의한 차이는 나타나지 않았다. 방사선 단독치료군에서 13명(22%)은 완전관해를, 40명(67%)은 부분관해를 보였고 7명(12%)은 반응을 보이지 않았다. 완전관해를 보인 환자군이 부분관해를 보인 환자군보다 더 나은 2년 생존율을 나타내었다(31% vs 17%). 결론: 식도암에서 방사선치료는 효과적이고 유용한 치료 방법이었으며 병기 및 방사선치료에의 반응 정도가 유의한 예후인자이었다. 그러나 식도암의 장기 생존율 및 예후가 만족스럽지 못하므로 더욱 효과적인 치료 방법의 개발이 향후 필요하리라 사료된다.