The effect of radiotherapy on dysphagia and survival in patients with esophageal cancer

Sequential chemotherapy and radiotherapy for squamous cell esophageal carcinoma

A Phase II study of sequential chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin followed by radiotherapy was initiated to see whether the use of two therapies sequentially could have an effect on response rate. Thirteen patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus were treated with 1,000 mg/m2/day 5-fluorouracil days 1-5 continuously and 100 mg/m2 cisplatin on day 1. An average of four cycles (range, one to nine) were given every 28 days; 11 patients received more than three cycles. The radiation consisted of 60 Gy over 6-8 weeks. There was only one (8%) complete response (CR) and 11 (85%) partial responses (PRs). Restaging after radiation revealed no conversion of PR to CR. Median survival was 39 weeks (range, 6-208+). Chemotherapy alone or its use sequentially with radiotherapy is inadequate, and newer approaches are needed to to improve survival.

Laser and brachytherapy in the palliation of adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and cardia

BACKGROUND

Palliation of malignant dysphagia is possible by a variety of methods although all have significant drawbacks. Laser therapy is an effective and safe treatment but has to be repeated at four to five weekly intervals to maintain palliation. A means of augmenting the benefits while reducing the need for repeat treatments would be highly beneficial to these patients.

AIMS

To prospectively explore the safety and efficacy of intraluminal radiotherapy (brachytherapy) when used to augment laser recanalisation for malignant dysphagia.

PATIENTS

Nineteen patients with dysphagia due to advanced adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus or cardia were recruited.

METHODS

All patients received laser recanalisation until able to swallow a soft diet or better, before the application of a single dose of brachytherapy (10 Gy at 1 cm from the source). Patients were followed up and treated promptly by further endoscopic means in the event of their dysphagia worsening.

RESULTS

Six patients (32%) required no further treatment until death at a median of 10 weeks (range 1-20 weeks). Further therapy was required at a median of 11 weeks (range 4-37 weeks) after brachytherapy for those 13 patients with recurrent dysphagia. Subsequent symptom control required endoscopic intervention at an average of once every nine weeks. There was no mortality associated with laser or brachytherapy. Median survival from initial treatment and including the one survivor was 36 weeks (range 5-132 weeks).

CONCLUSIONS

Laser plus brachytherapy offers a safe and effective means of palliating malignant dysphagia due to adenocarcinoma, with a longer dysphagia free interval than historical controls treated with laser alone.

Use of covered expandable metal stents in the treatment of oesophageal carcinoma and tracheo-oesophageal fistula

Palliation for malignant dysphagia has relied on oesophageal dilatation, insertion of rigid prostheses and laser treatment. All three methods have substantial risk of perforation. Displacement of the tube is also well described. Seventeen expandable polyethylene-covered metal stents were inserted in 15 patients with oesophageal carcinoma; there were 11 men and four women, of median age 70 years. Thirteen stents were inserted for dysphagia and four for tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TOF). Stents were inserted endoscopically under fluorosopic control. Seven patients died from their disease a median of 5 (range 1-11) months after stent insertion. Median follow-up in the remainder is 6 (range 1-11) months. Median dysphagia scores before and after insertion were 3 (range 2-4) and 1 (range 1-2) respectively. Stent insertion provided cure of symptoms in patients with TOF. Median hospital stay following insertion was 2 (range 1-20) nights. There were no deaths and no perforations associated with the procedure. Two patients complained of retrosternal chest pain for 2 days after stent insertion. One patient presented with dysphagia related to later stent migration. There has been no deterioration in symptoms of dysphagia in the remainder. Expandable oesophageal stents offer a safe alternative to traditional methods of palliative treatment for oesophageal carcinoma. In the long term they may provide a cost-effective alternative to standard treatments.

A single session of intraluminal brachytherapy in palliation of oesophageal cancer

Between September 1987 and September 1993, 88 patients with oesophageal cancer were treated by a single session of intraluminal brachytherapy of 15 Gy prescribed at 1 cm distance from the central axis, using MDR137Cs (n = 51) during the first part of the study and HDR192Ir (n = 37) during the second part of the study. All patients were regarded as inoperable. Improvement of dysphagia, assessed 4-6 weeks after treatment, was noted in 50 of 75 (67%) evaluable patients, whereas swallowing ability was completely restored in 47% of them. Relapse of dysphagia occurred in 28 (37%) patients during follow-up. Additional palliative treatment consisted of endoprosthesis in 14 (19%), a second course of brachytherapy in 13 (17%), one or more dilatations only in 11 (15%) and laser treatment in four (5%) patients. One non-fatal haemorrhage and five fistulae occurred, all in the presence of tumour. Two severe ulcerations without evidence of tumour were noted, both managed by combined curative treatment. The median survival of the group investigated was 5.5 months. An exophytic, non-circular growth pattern was associated with a better response. In a multivariate analysis the presence of distant metastases (p = 0.0028), weight loss (p = 0.0051) and an exophytic growth pattern (p = 0.0199) were associated with a worse survival. The present data indicate that a single session of ILB is appropriate in the palliation of dysphagia in patients with inoperable oesophagal cancer showing bad prognostic signs. Up to now there has been no clear evidence for benefit of addition of ERT.

Results of irradiation treatment in patients with non-resectable oesophageal cancer

Forty-eight patients with non-resectable cancer of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction (Group A: Stage I/II, 32; Group B: Stage III/IV, 16) underwent intraluminal Iridium-192 high dose-rate afterloading therapy (5-7 Gy/session, total dose: 5-21 Gy, mean: 12.4 Gy) and external beam irradiation (Karnofsky > or = 80% 50-60 Gy/2 Gy per day; Karnofsky 60-79%: 30 Gy/3 Gy per day). Durable satisfactory palliation (intake of at least semi-solid food) was demonstrated in 96% of patients. The mean survival for group A was 19.1 months and that for group B, 6.9 months, with a 12-month survival rate of 66% (group A) and 0% (group B) (P < 0.001). Local tumour response and complication rate were significantly dose-related with a predicted response rate of 70.5%, and a complication rate of 50% at ERD 129.3 Gy.

Self-expanding metal stents for the palliation of dysphagia due to inoperable oesophageal carcinoma

Adequate palliation of dysphagia due to inoperable oesophageal carcinoma is difficult to achieve with low morbidity. Thirty-three patients (21 men and 12 women of mean(s.e.m.) age 69(2) years) with inoperable carcinoma of the oesophagus underwent insertion of self-expanding metal stents. In 22 patients the tumours were in the lower third of the oesophagus, in eight in the middle third and in three in the upper third. A stent was inserted as primary palliative therapy in 14 patients, after failed laser therapy in 13 and after oesophageal perforation following other treatments in six. Patients presented with dysphagia of grade 3 or 4. Three types of stent were used: Wallstent, Strecker and Gianturco; stents were inserted under fluoroscopic guidance after balloon dilatation of the stricture. All attempted insertions of metal stents were successful. Dysphagia reduced from grade 3 or 4 to 0 or 1. There were no perforations related to insertion. Patients who had stents inserted to seal previous perforations left hospital a median 7 days later. Dysphagia recurred in six patients, due to migration of the stent (three), blockage by food bolus (one) and tumour overgrowth (two). These problems were easily treated. Self-expanding metal stents seem to offer excellent palliation with minimal morbidity for patients with inoperable carcinoma of the oesophagus.

Comparison of different treatments for unresectable esophageal cancer

Many patient with esophageal cancer have advanced disease that in not amenable to curative treatment. For these individuals the relief of dysphagia is of utmost importance to the quality of their remaining survival time. This article reviews and compares the methods of palliation with focus on indications and contraindications, advantages as well as disadvantages of each technique, success rates, and complications. Tumor characteristics, the physician's experience, the institution's capabilities, cost, and patient preference will influence choice of palliation. Methods are often complementary rather than competitive.

Management of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus with chemoradiation alone or chemoradiation followed by esophagectomy: results of sequential nonrandomized phase II studies

PURPOSE

The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is increasing, but the optimal treatment for this disease is unknown. We evaluated the efficacy of chemoradiation and chemoradiation followed by esophagectomy as treatment for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus in sequential prospective nonrandomized phase II studies.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Between May 1981 and June 1992, all previously untreated patients (N = 35) with potentially resectable adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (clinical Stage I or II) were treated with curative intent in sequential prospective Phase II studies. From May 1981 to August 1987, 11 patients (median age 66) were treated with concurrent chemotherapy [mitomycin C, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)] and radiotherapy to a median dose of 60 Gy (CRT group). From September 1987 to June 1992, 24 patients (median age 65) were treated with the same regimen of chemoradiation followed by planned esophagectomy (CRT+PE group). Of these, 12 patients (median age 62) actually underwent esophagectomy (CRT+E subgroup).

RESULTS

The median overall survival was 19 months for the CRT group and 15 months for the CRT+PE group. For the CRT+E subgroup, the median overall survival was 33 months. The 3-year actuarial overall survival for the CRT and the CRT+PE groups were 36 and 28% (p = 0.949). The subset of patients treated with chemoradiation followed by esophagectomy had a 3-year actuarial overall survival of 33% (p = 0.274). The 3-year actuarial freedom from local failure rates were similar: 62% in the CRT group vs. 58% in the CRT+PE group. Of the 12 patients who underwent esophagectomy (CRT+E group), 9 (75%) were free of local failure. Four of 12 (33%) patients had no pathologic evidence of malignancy in their surgical specimen. Six of 11 patients (55%) in the CRT group were free of local failure at the time of analysis. Two of five patients in this group who had local recurrence at 2 and 10 months underwent surgical salvage with subsequent survivals of 20 and 100 months, respectively. Treatment-related mortality was 0 out of 11 in the CRT group and 2 out of 24 in the CRT+PE group. Dysphagia relief was similar in the CRT group vs. the CRT+E subgroup; however, a greater percentage of patients treated with chemoradiation alone had normal long-term swallowing function when compared to those patients also undergoing esophagectomy (100% vs. 73%).

CONCLUSION

High-dose chemoradiation alone appears to provide similar survival and relief of dysphagia compared with high-dose chemoradiation followed by esophagectomy for patients with potentially resectable esophageal adenocarcinoma. Local failure may be higher in patients undergoing chemoradiation compared to chemoradiation followed by esophagectomy, but surgical salvage is possible, thus providing similar overall local control. However, because of the small number of patients in each group, these treatment modalities need to be further evaluated in a prospective randomized Phase III study.

Surgical treatment of carcinoma of the proximal esophagus

BACKGROUND

Proximal esophageal cancer is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, and the treatment is often limited to palliation. Surgery offers the best relief of dysphagia but it remains controversial, because a cure is unlikely even at the price of laryngeal mutilation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We treated 40 patients with transhiatal esophagectomy for cancer of the proximal esophagus. The esophageal substitute was a stomach tube in 37 patients and colon in 3 patients. The larynx was preserved in 27 patients whose tumors did not extend to cricopharyngeus. Adjuvant treatment consisted of postoperative radiotherapy for 22 patients, chemotherapy for 1 patient, and a multimodality regimen for 4 patients.

RESULTS

The postoperative complication and hospital mortality rates with gastric tube transpositions were 22% and 8%, respectively, with a 3% fistula rate. The 1- and 3-year overall survival rate was 53% and 21%, respectively. The unfavorable prognostic factors were tumor wall penetration, lymph nodal involvement, and cricopharyngeal involvement. Local recurrence of cancer was the major cause of failure.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that transhiatal esophagectomy with gastric tube transposition offers good palliation of dysphagia with low morbidity and mortality for proximal esophageal cancer. The laryngeal preservation can be attempted for tumors located close to, but not involving, the cricopharyngeus in order to retain speech in patients with a limited life expectancy.

Radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy for oesophageal carcinoma

This retrospective non-randomized study reports the outcome of 67 patients who received radical radiotherapy with or without two courses of concomitant chemotherapy using 5-fluorouracil and cis-platin at Westmead Hospital from 1985 to 1992. The overall median survival was 14.0 months, the actuarial 5-year survival was 18%, and median disease-free survival was 11.3 months. Forty-eight per cent of the 67 patients had complete endoscopic response and this resulted in a significantly improved survival for those patients. A pretreatment baseline Karnofsky performance > or = 80, and a baseline swallowing score > or = 80 also predicted for better survival. The development of acute toxicity did not predict the likelihood of developing chronic toxicity. The incidence of stricture formation (benign and malignant) requiring dilatation was 37%. There was no significant improvement in overall or disease-free survival, nor significant worsening of toxicity in the group of patients who received concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy compared with patients receiving radiotherapy alone.

Esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer is an important problem in the United States. It results in more deaths (over 10,000 annually) than rectal cancer. Furthermore, the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma is increasing at a rate faster than that of nearly any other cancer and the reasons for the increase are not well understood. A variety of tumor-suppressor genes (including p53, APC, DCC and Rb) and proto-oncogenes (including prad1, EGFR, c-erb-2 and TGF alpha) may be involved in the development and progression of esophageal cancer. Clinical prognostic factors include stage, Karnofsky performance status, sex, age, anatomic location of the tumor, and degree of weight loss. A new staging system based on depth of wall penetration and lymph node involvement correlates well with prognosis for patients undergoing esophagectomy. Newer staging procedures including endoscopic ultrasound as well as the use of minimally invasive surgery, such as thoracoscopy and laparoscopy, may allow accurate staging without esophagectomy. Surgical resection provides excellent palliation; however, the chance for cure with esophagectomy alone is only 10% to 20%. Adjuvant treatment with pre- or postesophagectomy radiation may improve local-regional control but does not improve survival. Nor has preoperative chemotherapy been shown to improve survival; however, it remains an active area of investigation. Multimodality therapy, namely, chemotherapy and radiation (chemoradiation), given concurrently prior to surgical resection shows promise, with one study indicating a 5-year survival of 34%. A complete pathologic response to chemoradiation correlates with improved survival. Chemoradiation has been shown to be superior to radiation as primary management of esophageal cancer. There has been no successfully completed randomized trial of surgery versus definitive radiation or chemoradiation. However, chemoradiation represents a reasonable alternative to esophagectomy in the primary management of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus and chemoradiation also appears to be effective in the treatment of patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, offering significant palliation and a chance for long-term survival as well. Randomized studies of preoperative chemoradiation versus surgery or versus chemoradiation alone are needed. The treatment of advanced esophageal cancer must be directed toward palliation of symptoms. Newer endoscopic techniques, including the use of expansile metal stents, laser ablation, intraluminal high-dose rate brachytherapy, BICAP tumor probe, or photodynamic therapy, offer selected patients short-term palliation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

A controlled trial of an expansile metal stent for palliation of esophageal obstruction due to inoperable cancer

BACKGROUND

Esophageal obstruction due to cancer can produce debilitating dysphagia. Rapid palliation is usually possible with endoscopic placement of a plastic esophageal prosthesis, but this device has a high rate of complications. A new alternative is a metal-mesh stent that collapses to 3 mm in diameter at placement but can then expand up to 16 mm.

METHODS

Patients with esophageal carcinoma (39 patients) or malignant extrinsic obstruction (3 patients) were randomly assigned to treatment with either a plastic prosthesis (16 mm in diameter) or an expansile metal-mesh stent. The patients were evaluated every six weeks until death. The degree of palliation was expressed as a dysphagia score and a Karnofsky performance score.

RESULTS

Complications were significantly less frequent with the metal stents than with the plastic prostheses (no complications vs. nine; P < 0.001). The dysphagia and Karnofsky scores improved significantly and to a similar degree in both treatment groups. The most common causes of recurrent dysphagia were migration of the plastic prostheses (five patients) and ingrowth or overgrowth of the metal stents by tumor (five patients). The rates of reintervention were similar in both treatment groups, as were the 30-day mortality rates. The period of hospitalization after placement of a prosthesis was significantly longer in the group given plastic prostheses than in the group given metal stents (mean +/- SE, 12.5 +/- 2.1 vs. 5.4 +/- 1.0 days; P = 0.005). Despite their higher initial cost, the metal stents were cost effective because of the absence of fatal complications and the decrease in the hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

Expansile metal stents are a safe and cost-effective alternative to conventional plastic endoprostheses in the treatment of esophageal obstruction due to inoperable cancer.

Combined external beam and low dose rate intraluminal radiotherapy in oesophageal cancer

Thirty-five patients with oesophageal cancer were treated with external beam irradiation (50-60 Gy) followed by a boost-dose of 15-20 Gy by means of low dose rate intraluminal brachytherapy. Of the 35 patients treated 17 (48%) were pretreated with laser therapy or dilation alone. Although the intraluminal application time was long (up to 36 h) the treatment was feasible with minor acute toxicity. The palliative effect of the combined treatment was excellent; a 6 weeks post-treatment 32 of the 35 patients were able to eat solid food. Late complications were seen in six patients (17%), of which only one was severe and probably treatment-related. The median survival was 11 months; the 1- and 2-year survival were 42% and 10% respectively. The survival was strongly dependent on local control. Distant metastases became evident in 23% of patients. The interval between external radiotherapy and brachytherapy seemed to be critical. The results were compared with 68 historical controls. A significantly better survival was observed at 6 months. It is concluded that low dose rate intraluminal brachytherapy is a useful and feasible technique to increase the total dose for obtaining a better local control. The shortcomings are discussed and ideas for further improvement are mentioned.

Swallowing function in patients with esophageal cancer treated with concurrent radiation and chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Major goals of concurrent radiation and chemotherapy in the treatment of esophageal cancer are the early restoration and long-term maintenance of swallowing function. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of concurrent radiation and chemotherapy on swallowing function.

METHODS

Between September 1980 and September 1990, 120 patients with esophageal cancer were treated at the Fox Chase Cancer Center on the basis of one of three prospective nonrandomized protocols using concurrent chemotherapy and radiation. Swallowing function was retrospectively assessed in these patients by use of a swallowing-function scoring system. In addition, patients who had long-term control of their esophageal cancer underwent a more detailed analysis of swallowing function.

RESULTS

Initial improvement in dysphagia occurred in 88% of the 102 assessable patients, with a median time to improvement of 2 weeks. There was no difference in overall percentage of initial improvement for patients with adenocarcinoma versus squamous cell carcinoma. Patients with distal tumors, however, showed both earlier and higher frequency of initial improvement than did patients with tumors in the upper two-thirds of the thoracic esophagus (95% versus 79%). Local relapse-free survival of definitively treated patients at 3 years was 60% and was significantly better for patients with Stage I (76%) versus Stage II cancers (55%) (P < 0.05). All 25 patients treated with curative intent who survived for more than 1 year without evidence of disease were able to eat soft or solid foods and had a benign stricture rate of only 12%. Even in patients with advanced disease who were treated with palliative intent, 91% had an initial improvement in swallowing function and 67% had improvement in swallowing function that lasted until death.

CONCLUSIONS

High-dose concurrent radiation and chemotherapy provides rapid improvement in dysphagia, and this improvement results in normal or near-normal swallowing function of long duration.

Iridium-192 high dose rate brachytherapy combined with external beam irradiation in non-resectable oesophageal cancer

Forty-eight patients with non-resectable cancer of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction (group A: Stage I/II: n = 32; group B: Stage III/IV: n = 16) underwent intralumenal iridium-192 high dose-rate afterloading brachytherapy (5-7 Gy/session, total dose 5-21 Gy, mean 12.4 Gy) and external beam irradiation (Karnofsky > or = 80%: 50-60 Gy/2 Gy per day; Karnofsky 60%-79%: 30 Gy/3 per day). Prolonged satisfactory palliation (intake of at least semi-solid food) was demonstrated in 96% of patients. The mean survival for group A was 19.1 months and that for group B 6.9 months, with a 12-month survival rate of 66% for group A and 0% for group B (P < 0.001). Local tumour response and complication rate were significantly dose related with a predicted response rate of 70.5% and a complication rate of 50% at extrapolated response dose (ERD) 129.3 GY3 (Gy at alpha/beta = 3).

Radiation enhancement of laser palliation for malignant dysphagia: a pilot study

Laser therapy offers rapid relief of dysphagia for patients with cancers of the oesophagus and gastric cardia but repeat treatments are required approximately every five weeks to maintain good swallowing. To try to prolong the treatment interval, 22 elderly patients were given additional external beam radiotherapy. Nine had squamous cell carcinoma and 13 adenocarcinoma: five had documented metastases. Six received 40 Gy and 16,30 Gy in 10-20 fractions. A 'check' endoscopy was performed three weeks after external beam radiotherapy. Dysphagia was graded from 0-4 (0 = normal; 4 = dysphagia for liquids). The median dysphagia grade improved from 3 to 1 after laser treatment. This improvement was maintained in the 30 Gy group but there was a noticeable deterioration in three of those who had received the higher radiation dose. A lifelong dysphagia grade of 2 or better was enjoyed by 14 of 16 patients in the 30 Gy group but only two of six in the 40 Gy group. The dysphagia controlled interval was 9 weeks (median) after check endoscopy and subsequent endoscopic procedures were required every 13 weeks to maintain good swallowing. There were no endoscopy related complications. Combined treatment is a promising approach for reducing the frequency of endoscopic treatments. The 30 Gy dose seems more appropriate and may prolong survival. A randomised study to test these conclusions is in progress.

Palliation in esophageal cancer with a single session of intraluminal irradiation

From September 1987 to December 1989, 36 patients with advanced esophageal cancer entered a study in order to determine the efficacy of palliation by a single session of intraluminal irradiation. A dose of 15 Gy was administered at 1 cm distance from the central axis of the applicator. In 22 of 32 patients alive at least 6 weeks after treatment dysphagia improved, in 14 this relief was complete. Re-obstruction occurred in 8 of the 22 responders, but a second treatment with intraluminal irradiation gave improvement in six. Intraesophageal prostheses were needed in only 6 of the 36 patients. Intraluminal irradiation is easy to administer and safe, it forms a useful addition to the therapeutic possibilities for the palliation of esophageal cancer.

The role of radiotherapy in carcinoma of the thoracic oesophagus: An audit of the Mount Vernon experience 1980–1989

All 244 patients with carcinoma of the thoracic oesophagus registered at the Mount Vernon Centre for Cancer Treatment during the decade from 1 January 1980 to 31 December 1989 have been audited. We have made a detailed analysis of 110 (45%) with localized disease considered unsuitable for surgery, who completed treatment solely by radiotherapy. The median survival of this group of patients was 8.2 months (range 0.2-54 months). Dysphagia was improved by radiotherapy in 77.3% of cases, the median duration of relief was 24 weeks (range 0-208 weeks) and was maintained until death in 40%. Life table analysis showed that radical compared with less than radical regimens of radiotherapy gave significantly superior relief of dysphagia. This result is unlikely to be due to case selection.

The role of intraluminal radiotherapy and concurrent 5-fluorouracil infusion in the management of carcinoma esophagus: a pilot study

Fifty patients with carcinoma of the esophagus were entered in a randomized pilot study to test the efficacy of intraluminal radiotherapy (ILRT) and concurrent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) infusion. The median age was 65 years, with 80% having middle third lesions; in 62%, the lesions were longer than 5 cm. After external beam therapy of 50 Gy in 5 weeks, patients were randomized to receive chemotherapy. Significant improvement in dysphagia was recorded in 76% patients with complete response in 47 cases ranging from 6 to 27 months. The overall survival at 2 years was 15% with ILRT alone versus 22% with ILRT plus 5-FU infusion.

A prospective comparison of laser therapy and intubation in endoscopic palliation for malignant dysphagia

There is little objective long-term follow-up comparing laser therapy with intubation for palliation of malignant dysphagia. In a prospective, nonrandomized two-center trial 43 patients treated with the neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser were compared with 30 patients treated by endoscopic intubation; the two groups were comparable for mean age and tumor position, length, and histology. Dysphagia was graded from 0 to 4 (0, normal swallowing; 4, dysphagia for liquids). Pretreatment mean dysphagia grades were similar: laser-treated group, 2.9 (SD, 0.6); intubated group, 3.2 (SD, 0.55). For thoracic esophageal tumors, the percentage of patients achieving an improvement in dysphagia grade by greater than or equal to 1 grade initially and over the long term was similar (laser, 95% and 77%; intubation, 100% and 86%). For tumors crossing the cardia, intubation was significantly better (laser, 59% and 50%; intubation, 100% and 92%, respectively; P less than 0.001). In patients palliated over a long period, however, the mean dysphagia grade over the remainder of their mean dysphagia grade over the remainder of their lives (mean survival: laser, 6.1 months; intubation, 5.1 months) was better in the laser group (1.6 vs. 2.0; P less than 0.01); 33% of laser-treated and 11% of intubated patients could eat most or all solids (P less than 0.05). For long-term palliation, laser-treated patients required on average more procedures (4.6 vs. 1.4; P less than 0.05) and days in the hospital (14 vs. 9; P less than 0.05). The perforation rate was lower in the laser-treated group (2% vs. 13%; P less than 0.02); no treatment-related deaths occurred in either group. For individual patients, the best results are likely to be achieved when the two techniques are used in a complementary fashion in specialist centers.