Comparative evaluation of gemcitabine concurrent with radiotherapy against cisplatin concurrent with radiotherapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus

Background: Several trials using sequential and concurrent chemoradiation have established the role of concurrent chemoradiation in treatment of locally advanced esophageal carcinoma with encouraging but unsatisfactory results. We investigated the efficacy and toxicity of gemcitabine concurrent with radiotherapy against cisplatin concurrent with radiotherapy in locally advanced unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Materials and Methods: Eighty patients were randomly allocated to two arms during the study. Arm 1 received cisplatin 40 mg/m² weekly concurrent with external beam radiotherapy to a total dose of 65 Gy while Arm 2 received gemcitabine 200 mg/m² weekly concurrent with external beam radiotherapy up to a total dose of 65 Gy. Results: Median follow-up was 11 months and 14.5 months in Arm 1 and Arm 2, respectively. Complete response was achieved in 20% of patients in Arm 1 and 32.5% of patients in Arm 2, with manageable acute toxicities in both arms. The progression-free survival in Arm 1 was 5.7 ± 4.7 months and 12.4 ± 6.8 months in Arm 2. The 2-year overall survival was longer in Arm 2. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that both cisplatin and gemcitabine concurrent with radiotherapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus is safe and feasible with better response and progression-free survival with gemcitabine.