ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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Year : 2020 | Volume
: 57
| Issue : 1 | Page : 84-88 |
Chemo-radiation outcomes for esophageal cancer: A reflection from a tertiary cancer center on selection of patients for more aggressive therapy
Janaki Gururajachar Manur, M G John Sebastian, Savitha Mary David
Department of Radiation Oncology, M.S Ramaiah Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Correspondence Address:
Janaki Gururajachar Manur Department of Radiation Oncology, M.S Ramaiah Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijc.IJC_474_18
Introduction: Most esophageal cancer patients present with poor nutritional status and may not tolerate radical treatment.
Aim: We aim to identify patients who are good candidates for chemo-radiation (CTRT).
Materials and Methods: Fifty-four patients treated with CTRT were followed up for a mean period of 28 months and factors affecting the outcome were analyzed along with the recurrence pattern.
Results:Forty-eight patients (88%) received CTRT and all completed treatment as scheduled. Eighteen (32%), 15 (27%) patients were alive with and without disease, respectively, at 28 months while 20 (37%) were dead. There was no statistically significant correlation between local failure and any of the factors like length, grade of the tumor, and chemotherapy received.
Conclusion: Esophageal cancer patients present at an advanced stage and hence careful selection of patients for radical CTRT is very important for providing relatively longer disease-free interval. Equally important is the close monitoring of patients during treatment which helps in completing the planned treatment which translates into a better long-term outcome.
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