Study, year [Reference] | Participants | Number of patients | Interventions | Median Survival (Months) | Survival Rate (%) | Adverse Effects (Number of Patients) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  | 1 yr | 2 yr | 3 yr | 4 yr | 5 yr |  |
Roth et al. 1988 [31] | 39 patients | 19 | cisplatin 120 mg/m2 × 1 day × 1 cycle vindesine 3 mg/m2 × 4 days × 2 cycles bleomycin 10 U/m2 × 4 days × 2 cycles + esophagectomy + cisplatin 120 mg/m2 q 6 wks × 6 months + vindesine 3 mg/m2 q 12 wks × 6 months | 9 | 50 | 28 | 28 | - | - | alopecia, 17; vomiting, 2; pneumonia, 1; sepsis, 1; neurological, 1; respiratory failure, 1; renal, 1; leaks, 1; chylothorax, 3; pulmonary embolus, 1; wound infection, 1 |
 | Nov 1982–May 1986 NCI, single centre squamous cell Stage I, II, III | versus | versus | versus | versus | versus | ||||
 |  | 20 | esophagectomy (transthoracic with cervical or thoracic anastomosis) | 9 | 35 | 15 | 8 | - | - | leaks, 3; chylothorax, 1; pulmonary embolus, 1; pneumonia, 1; strictures, 1; empyema, 1; subphrenic abscess, 1 |
 |  |  |  |  | No difference in survival (p = 0.34). Survival advantage in responders and if less than 10% weight loss. |  | ||||
Kelsen et al. 1998 [36] | 467 patients Aug 1990 to Dec 1995 North America, multi-centered Resectable esophageal cancer 55% adenocarcinoma 45% squamous cell | 233 | cisplatin 100 mg/m2 × 1 day × 3 cycles 5-fluorouracil 1 g/m2 × 5 days × 3 cycles + esophagectomy + cisplatin 75 mg/m2 × 1 day × 2 cycles if responded | 14.9 | 59 | 35 | 23 | 19 | 18 | minor, 49; major, 53; toxic deaths, 9; neutropenia, 68; mucositis, 58; postoperative deaths, 10 |
 |  | versus | versus | versus | versus | versus | ||||
 |  | 234 | esophagectomy | 16.1 | 60 | 37 | 26 | 21 | 20 | minor, 67; major, 57; postoperative deaths, 13 |
 |  |  |  |  | No survival difference. |  |