High‐dose versus standard‐dose radiation therapy for cervical esophageal cancer: Retrospective single‐institution study

Abstract Background To evaluate the role of definitive radiotherapy using higher‐than‐standard‐dose radiation of 50 Gy for carcinoma of the cervical esophagus (CCE). Methods We reviewed 79 patients with stage I‐III CCE, treated between 2000 and 2012. Patients received 5‐fluorouracil/cisplatin‐based chemotherapy concurrently and were divided into high‐dose (≥59.4 Gy, n = 44) and standard‐dose (<59.4 Gy, n = 35) groups. Results The median follow‐up was 35 months for surviving patients. The high‐dose group had significantly better 3‐year local (90.0% vs 60.4%, P = .001) and locoregional (70.4% vs 45.3%, P = .04) control. Progression‐free (45.4% vs 37.5%, P = .32) and overall (58.4% vs 49.1%, P = .69) survival rates were not different. High‐dose radiation was an independent prognostic factor for locoregional control ( P = .04). No differences in late toxicities (esophageal stenosis or tracheoesophageal fistula) were observed. Conclusion High‐dose radiation for CCE improves local and locoregional control, without increasing severe toxicities.