Bleomycin/cis-platin as neoadjuvant chemotherapy before radical radiotherapy in localized, inoperable carcinoma of the esophagus

Survival and swallowing function were studied in a randomized trial of 97 patients with inoperable, localized esophageal carcinoma. Radical radiotherapy was given to 51 patients, while 46 patients had two courses of bleomycin/cisplatin before radiotherapy. The survival was 29 % after one year, and 6 % after 3 years in the radiotherapy group. The survival in the combined treatment group was 18 and 0%, respectively; p = 0. 1895. The number of patients who could swallow any food increased from 6% before treatment to 38% after 3 months in the radiotherapy group, and from 0 % to 23 % in the combined group. No benefit was found by combining bleomycin/cisplatin with radiotherapy.