External radiotherapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, 15 years of experience.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the efficacy of external radiotherapy (RT) treatment with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and HIBRIDO technique (IMRT/ 3D-CRT) in patients with a diagnosis of locally advanced esophageal SCC who attended the Dr. Enrique Gutiérrez Radiotherapy Service at the La Trinidad Teaching Medical Center. METHOD: 29 patients were selected during the period 2006-2021 who met the inclusion criteria and were treated with external radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy. RESULTS: a population of 29 patients was evaluated, the median age was 67 years. Adenocarcinoma (ADC) predominated in 58.6%. The most commonly used treatment technique was the HIBRID technique (RTIM/ RTC3D) in 62.1% followed by RTC3D 20.7%. Nineteen patients underwent concurrent treatment and the most commonly used regimen was capecitabine/paclitaxel. Complications were evaluated according to the technique, being grade 3 gastrointestinal, with RTC3D. Overall survival (OS) at 2 years was 45.5% and at 5 years 22.7%. Survival free of distant progression (PFSD) at 2 years was 84.4.3% and at 5 years 60.2%; 58.6% had improvement of symptoms at the time of final evaluation. CONCLUSION: our results demonstrate that the administration of Radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy remains the standard treatment for locally advanced EC, achieving a better quality of life for patients, and a lower rate of distant progression.