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Radiation vs Chemoradiotherapy in Esophageal CA
Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol; 2018 Feb; Penniment, et al
Patients with advanced or metastatic esophageal cancer respond modestly better to palliative chemoradiotherapy than to radiation alone, according to a multicenter international randomized controlled trial.
- From 2003 to 2012, 111 patients were given a combination of chemotherapy and radiation while a comparison group of 109 patients received only radiotherapy.
- 45% of patients on dual therapy experienced dysplasia relief, compared to 35% in the radiation group (P =0.13).
- However, toxicity was more pronounced in the patients on chemoradiotherapy, with 36% experiencing grade 3-4 acute toxicity, compared to 16% in the radiation group.
- Patients on dual therapy also suffered more anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, esophagitis, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and mucositis.
Citation:
Penniment MG, De Ieso PB, Harvey JA, et al. Palliative chemoradiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone for dysphagia in advanced esophageal cancer: a multicentre randomised controlled trial (TROG 03.01) Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018; 3:114-124. doi:10.1016/S2468-1253(17)30363-1.