RESUMEN
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of radical three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DRT) alone or combined with chemotherapy in elderly patients (≥70 years) with esophageal cancer.Methods The clinical data of 116 esophageal cancer patients who were aged 70 years or older and received radical 3DRT ± chemotherapy from 2008 to 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.Of the 116 patients,32 received concurrent chemoradiotherapy,24 received sequential chemoradiotherapy,and 60 received radiotherapy alone.Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method,and survival difference analysis and univariate prognostic analysis was performed using the log-rank test.Multivariate prognostic analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazard model.Results The follow-up rate was 100％.The 2-and 3-year sample sizes were 102 and 77,respectively.The 1-,2-,and 3-year OS rates were 59.1％,38.4％,and 23.2％,respectively,and the PFS rates were 61.9％,37.9％,and 0％,respectively.The median OS for the patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy,sequential chemoradiotherapy,and radiotherapy alone were 22.3,18.0,and 12.4 months,respectively (P =0.044).The median OS was significantly different between patients treated with 60 Gy and ＜60 Gy in radiotherapy (24.7 vs.10.9 months,P =0.036),but not significantly different between those treated with 60 Gy and ＞ 60 Gy (24.7 vs.18.7 months,P =0.938).Multivariate analysis indicated that sex,presence or absence of combined chemotherapy,and radiotherapy dose were independent influencing factors for OS (P=0.003,0.042,and 0.037,respectively).Conclusions Radical 3DRT ± chemotherapy are well tolerated in elderly patients with esophageal cancer and equally effective as in those younger than 70 years.Patients treated with radical concurrent chemoradiotherapy have a better prognosis than those treated with sequential chemoradiotherapy and radiotherapy alone.Radiotherapy with a dose of 60 Gy effectively improves the survival compared with doses less than 60 Gy,which suggests that 60 Gy is the optimal dose in radiotherapy.