• Rebecca Ks Wong and Richard Malthaner.
• Department of Radiation Oncology, The Princess Margaret Hospital, 5th Floor, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 2M9.
• Cochrane Db Syst Rev. 2010 Jan 20; 2010 (1): CD002092CD002092.

BackgroundEsophageal carcinoma can be managed primarily with either a surgical or non-surgical radiotherapeutic approach. Combination chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) has been incorporated into clinical practice and applied increasingly, especially in North America.ObjectivesTo evaluate combined CT and RT (CTRT) versus RT alone in patients with localized esophageal carcinoma. Outcomes included overall survival, cause-specific survival, local recurrence, dysphagia relief, quality of life, acute and chronic toxicities.Search StrategyThe Cochrane strategy for identifying randomized trials was combined with relevant MeSH headings. The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, CancerLIT and EMBASE were last searched in April 2005. References from relevant articles and personal files were included.Selection CriteriaRandomized controlled trials in patients with localized esophageal cancer comparing RT alone with combined CTRT were included. Studies comparing non-chemotherapy agents such as pure radiotherapy sensitisers, immunostimulants, planned esophagectomy, were excluded.Data Collection And AnalysisTwo reviewers extracted data independently. Trial quality was assessed using the Jadad scale and Detsky checklist. Sensitivity analyses were planned to examine the effect of concomitant versus sequential treatment, study quality, radiotherapy dose, and whether the drug regimen contained cisplatin or 5-fluorouracil were performed.Main ResultsNineteen randomized trials were included, with eleven concomitant and eight sequential RTCT studies. Concomitant RTCT provided significant reduction in mortality with a harms ratio (HR) of 0.73 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.64 to 0.84). Using an estimated mortality rate for the control group of 62% at year one and 83% at year two, the absolute survival benefit for RTCT was 9% (95% CI 5 to 12%) and 4% (95% CI 3 to 6%]) respectively. There was an absolute reduction of local recurrence rate of 12% (95% CI 3 to 22%), number needed to treat (NNT) of 9, when the local recurrence rate for the RT alone arm was 68%. This was associated with a significant risk of severe and life-threatening toxicities (number needed to harm (NNH)of 6). Sensitivity analyses did not identify any factors that interacted with the results. The results from sequential RTCT studies showed no significant benefit in survival or local control but significant toxicities.Authors' ConclusionsBased on the available data, when a non-operative approach is selected then concomitant RTCT is superior to RT alone for patients with localized esophageal cancer but with significant toxicities. In patients who are in good general condition, and the risk benefit has been thoroughly discussed with the patient, concomitant RTCT should be considered for the management of esophageal cancer compared with radiotherapy alone.

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