Adriamycin alone and in combination with radiotherapy in the treatment of inoperable esophageal cancer
Kolarić, K.; Maricić, Z.; Roth, A.; Dujmović, I.
Tumori 63(5): 485-491
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-8916 PMID: 601878 Document Number: 113201
Thirty-three patients with inoperable esophageal cancer were treated in a randomized study. There were 24 squamous cell, 2 anaplastic, 4 unclassified and 3 adenocarcinomas. Eighteen patients were treated with 6 cycles of adriamycin with a 3 wk rest period between cycles. Adriamycin was administered in doses of 40 mg/m2 body surface daily for 2 days during each cycle. The other group of 15 patients were treated with adriamycin and radiation. The tumor was irradiated with speed electrons (4500-5200 rads total dose), and during irradiation, 3 cycles of adriamycin were given. All patients previously had no treatment. In the group of patients treated with adriamycin, the response rate (> 50% tumor regression) was 33% (6/18) with 1 complete and 5 partial remissions. In the combined treatment group, there were 4 complete and 5 partial remissions (9/15) with a response rate of 69%. In both groups of patients, remissions were obtained in the squamous cell carcinomas, except 1 patient with anaplastic carcinoma in the adriamycin-treated group, and 1 adenocarcinoma in the combined treated group. Remissions lasted 2-12 mo. (M = 3.2 mo.) in the adriamycin-treated group and 3-15 mo. (M = 8.6 mo.) in the combined treatment group. There were no significant differences in the toxic side effects, except a slightly increased myelodepression in the combined treatment modality. One patient of the combined treatment group showed a potentiation of radiation dermititis. Adriamycin was an antitumor effect on esophageal (squamous cell) carcinoma, which so far was not proven. Significantly better results with longer remission duration can be obtained when adriamycin and radiation are combined.