The tumors were histologically confirmed to be primary, and no patients with recurrence were included in this study. Protocol The protocol is presented in Figure 1. A course consisted of the continuous infusion of 5-FU at 400 mg/m2/day for days 1-5 and 8-12, the infusion of CDDP at 40 mg/m2/day on days 1 and 8, and the radiation at 2 Gy/day on days 1 to 5, 8 to 12, and

15 to 19, with a second course repeated after a 2-week interval [5, 6]. If disease progression/recurrence was observed, either salvage surgery, endoscopic treatment, or another regimen of chemotherapy was scheduled. This study was conducted with the authorization of the institutional review board and followed

the medical research council guidelines of Kobe University. Written informed consent was obtained learn more from all participants prior to enrollment. Figure 1 Protocol of Selleckchem 4-Hydroxytamoxifen a definitive 5-fluorouracil/cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy. One course of treatment consisted of protracted venous infusions of 5-fluorouracil (400 mg/m2/day for days 1-5 and 8-12) and cisplatin (40 mg/m2/day on days 1 and 8), and radiation (2 Gy/day on days 1-5, 8-12, and 15-19), with a second course (days 36-56) repeated after a 2-week interval. Determination of plasma concentrations of 5-FU Aliquots (5 mL) of blood were collected into etylenediaminetetraacetic acid-treated tubes at 5:00 PM on days 3, 10, 38, and 45, and at 5:00 AM on days 4, 11, 39, and 46 [26–30]. The plasma concentrations of 5-FU were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography as described previously [26–30]. Clinical response The clinical response was evaluated as reported previously [5–9]. Briefly, a complete response (CR) was defined as the complete disappearance of all measurable and assessable disease at the first evaluation, which was performed 1 month after the completion of CRT to determine whether the disease had Thiamine-diphosphate kinase progressed. The clinical response was evaluated by endoscopy and chest and abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans in each course. A CR at the primary site was evaluated

by endoscopic examination when all of the following criteria were satisfied on observation of the entire esophagus: 1) disappearance of the tumor lesion; 2) disappearance of ulceration (slough); and 3) absence of cancer cells in biopsy specimens. If small nodes of 1 cm or less were detected on CT scans, the recovery was defined as an “”uncertain CR”" after confirmation of no progression for at least 3 months. An “”uncertain CR”" was included as a CR when calculating the CR rate. When these criteria were not satisfied, a non-CR was assigned. The existence of erosion, a granular protruded lesion, an ulcer scar, and 1.2 w/v% iodine/glycerin-voiding lesions did not prevent an evaluation of CR.