Prospective cohort comparison of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy versus chemotherapy in patients with oesophageal cancer

Background: Chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy are common neoadjuvant treatments for resectable T3 N0-1 M0 oesophageal carcinoma. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of these therapies in consecutive cohorts of patients. Methods: Between January 1998 and December 2001, 88 patients received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (two cycles of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), prior to 45 Gy in 25 F concurrent radiotherapy with cisplatin and 5-FU). From 2002, 117 patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (76 patients had two cycles of cisplatin and 41 had four cycles of epirubicin, cisplatin and 5-FU). The primary outcome measure was survival, and analysis was by intention to treat. Results: Postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were 56 per cent (40 patients) and 10 per cent (seven patients) respectively in the chemoradiotherapy group, compared with 47 per cent (46 patients) and I per cent (one patient) in the chemotherapy group (P = 0.008). The cumulative 5-year survival rate by intention to treat was 35 per cent after chemoradiotherapy versus 21 per cent after chemotherapy (P = 0.188). The cumulative corrected 5-year survival rate after completed treatment was 44 per cent for chemoradiotherapy compared with 25 per cent for chemotherapy (P = 0.032). Conclusion: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy should remain an option for patients with satisfactory performance status.