[Hyperthermo-chemo-radiotherapy of patients with carcinoma of the esophagus and prediction of the clinical remedial value using the in vitro succinate dehydrogenase inhibition test].

Hyperthermia combined with irradiation and chemotherapy was prescribed for patients with resectable (n = 88) and unresectable (n = 36) carcinoma of the esophagus. The histopathological effectiveness, and the long term results were compared between two groups of patients treated with hyperthermo-chemo-radiotherapy (HCR therapy) and those treated with chemoradiotherapy (CR therapy). A correlation between the hyperthermia sensitivity test, using the in vitro succinate dehydrogenase inhibition test, and the clinical remedial value was also examined in malignant tissues from 47 patients with esophageal cancer, and treated with HCR therapy. In the resected cases, preoperative HCR therapy resulted in a significantly higher histopathological effectiveness rate (69%) compared with that in cases treated by CR therapy (48%) (P less than 0.05). The long term results of patients with both resectable and unresectable carcinoma, given HCR therapy were significantly better than those given CR therapy (P less than 0.05). On the other hand, the clinical remedial value, determined radiographically showed a correlation rate of 77% to the hyperthermia sensitivity test. Thus, the HCR therapy resulted in not only a higher histopathological effectiveness rate but also a significantly longer survival without severe side effects, and this hyperthermia sensitivity test using the succinate dehydrogenase inhibition test facilitates prediction of the outcome of the HCR therapy.