Induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemotherapy and high-dose radiotherapy for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the cervical oesophagus.

The efficacy and toxicity of combined radiochemotherapy for locally advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the cervical oesophagus was evaluated retrospectively. Induction chemotherapy consisted of three courses of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin, etoposide and cisplatin (FLEP) or two courses weekly six times of 5-FU and leucovorin combined with biweekly cisplatin. This induction regimen was followed by high-dose external beam radiotherapy up to 60-66 Gy and concurrent chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide. Median follow-up of the recruited 17 patients was 37 months (13-73 months). Long-term survival was 24% at 2 and 3 years. The probabilities of locoregional tumour recurrences and distant metastases as sites of first relapse were 67 and 39% at 2 years. Acute and late toxicity of this schedule was moderate. The protocol offers a definitive chance of long-term survival for patients with locally advanced carcinomas of the cervical oesophagus, but local in-field recurrences remain the predominant risk after treatment. Intensification of the regimen seems possible because no dose-limiting late toxicities were observed.