Randomised phase III trial of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with extended nodal irradiation and erlotinib in patients with inoperable oesophageal squamous cell cancer.

•Chemotherapy with extended nodal irradiation and erlotinib improve survival for inoperable oesophageal squamous cell cancer.•Chemoradiotherapy with ENI alone can significantly improve 2-year overall survival to 54.0% and reduce 31.2% risk of death.•ENI alone should be adopted in concurrent chemoradiotherapy for inoperable ESCC.