Endoscopically defined treatment strategies in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer.

Sixty-five consecutive, locally advanced esophageal cancer patients were treated by the West Side Medical Center Esophageal Service at the Cook County and University of Illinois hospitals. Each patient was prospectively evaluated with multiple endoscopies including esophagogastroduodenoscopy, bronchoscopy, nasopharyngoscopy, and laryngoscopy. Twenty-four patients (37%) had endoscopic findings that significantly altered therapeutic regimens. Patients identified as having an obvious or impending esophageal fistula or poor performance status were treated in a palliative fashion. Forty (61.5%) patients were considered candidates for treatment with multimodal therapy which included radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. There was a response rate of 82.5% and a 1-year disease-free survival of 88.9% which was statistically significant when compared to the other patient treatment groups. These data illustrate the necessity of multiple endoscopic evaluation of locally advanced esophageal cancer patients for stratification into appropriate treatment groups. Aggressive treatment afforded selected patients excellent relief of presenting symptomatology, as well as an improved, more acceptable, disease-free survival.