S-1 and Radiotherapy in Elderly Patients With Esophageal Cancer

Purpose:evaluated the dose-limiting toxicity and recommended dose of S-1 for a future phase II study when administered concurrently with thoracic radiation in elderly patients (>70 years old) with esophageal Cancer.

Methods:S-1 was administered on days 1-14 and 29-42 at the following dosages: 60, 70, and 80mg/m(2)/day. Thoracic radiation therapy was administered in 1.8Gy fractions five times weekly to a total dose of 54 Gy.

Inclusion criteria

• Histologically documented diagnosis of esophageal Cancer
• Disease must be encompassed in a radiotherapy field.Patients with celiac, perigastric, mediastinal or supraclavicular adenopathy are eligible
• age:70-85 years
• Written informed consent.
• Performance status of 0 to 2
• Neutrophil count >1.5 x 10 to the 9th power/L and platelets > 100 x 10 to the 9th power/L.
• Hepatic: total bilirubin less than or equal to 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) less than or equal to 2.5 times ULN (or less than or equal to 5 times ULN in case of known liver involvement
• Renal: Serum Creatinine less than or equal to 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

Exclusion criteria

• Evidence of tracheoesophageal fistula, or invasion into the trachea or major bronchi.
• Prior invasive malignancy (except non-melanomatous skin cancer) unless disease free for a minimum of 2 years (For example, carcinoma in situ of the breast, oral cavity, or cervix are all permissible).
• Prior systemic chemotherapy or radiation therapy for esophageal cancer