목 적: 국소 진행된 식도암으로 동시 항암화학방사선치료를 시행한 고령의 환자들을 대상으로 동시 항암화학방사선치료에 대한 효과를 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 2001년 1월부터 2007년 7월까지 병리학적 편평상피세포암으로 확인 된 65세 이상의 식도암 환자 중동시 항암화학방사선치료를 받은 28명을 대상으로 후향적 분석을 하였다. 환자의 병기는 IIa 8명(28.8%), IIb 10명 (35.7%), III 10명(35.7%)이었다. 방사선치료는 6 MV 또는 10 MV X-선으로 45~63 Gy (중앙값: 59.4 Gy)를 분할 조사하였다. 항암화학요법은 방사선치료 시작과 동시에 Cisplatin 75 mg/$m^2$을 제1일에 정주하였고, 5-FU는 1,000mg/$m^2$을 제1일에서 제4일까지 4일간 지속적 정주하여 방사선치료 동안은 3주 간격으로 2회 시행하였고, 방사선치료 후 2회의 항암화학요법을 추가 시행하였다. 결 과: 추적관찰기간은 3~72개월(중앙값: 19개월)이었다. 동시 항암화학방사선치료 후 치료 반응은 완전관해가39.3% (11명), 부분반응은 50.0% (14명), 무반응이 10.7% (3명)로 치료 반응률은 89.3% (25명)이었다. 전체 환자의 1, 2, 3년 생존율은 각각 55.9%, 34.6%, 24.2%이었고 중앙 생존기간은 15개월이었다. 완전관해, 부분반응, 무반응의 종양 반응을 보인 환자들의 2년 생존율은 각각 46.2%, 33.%, 0%이었다. 생존율과 관련된 예후인자로서 병기와 방사선치료 후 종양 반응이 유의하였다. 치료에 의한 합병증으로 사망한 환자는 없었다. 결 론: 고령의 국소 진행된 식도암환자에 대한 동시 항암화학방사선치료는 심각한 부작용 없이 비교적 효과적이었다.
Purpose: The effect of concurrent chemoradiotherapy was analyzed in elderly patients when used in the treatment of locally advanced esophageal cancer. Materials and Methods: The retrospective analysis included 28 elderly patients aged 65 or older, with histopathologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy from January 2001 to July 2007. The squamous cell carcinoma disease stages included 8 patients (28.8%) in stage IIa, 10 patients (35.7%) in stage IIb, and 10 patients (35.7%) in stage III. Fractionated radiotherapy was performed with a 6 MV or 10 MV X-ray for 45~63 Gy (median: 59.4 Gy). Chemotherapy was applied concurrently with the initiation of radiotherapy. A 75 mg/$m^2$ dose of Cisplatin was intravenously administered on day 1. Further, 5-FU 1,000 mg/$m^2$ was continuously administered intravenously from days 1 to 4. This regimen was performed twice at 3-week intervals during radiotherapy. Two cycles of consolidation chemotherapy was performed after radiotherapy. Results: The follow-up period was 3~72 months (median: 19 months). The treatment responses after concurrent chemoradiotherapy included a complete response in 11 patients (39.3%), a partial response in 14 patients (50.0%), and no response in 3 patients (10.7%). The overall response rate was 89.3% (25 patients). The overall 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates were 55.9%, 34.6% and 24.2%, respectively. The median survival time was 15 months. Two-year survival rates of patients with a complete response, partial response, and no response were 46.2%, 33.0%, and 0%, respectively. The stage and tumor response after concurrent chemoradiotherapy were statistically significant prognostic factors related with survival. No treatment-related deaths occurred in this study. Conclusion: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is a relatively effective treatment without serious complications in elderly patients with locally-advanced esophageal cancer.
