The minimum median dose was 5712 cGy (5510-6723 cGy). Median dose of the whole heart and 30% of heart were 308 cGy (10-1222 cGy) cGy and 4287 cGy (1820-5656 cGy)

cGy. Average median lung dose was 1485 cGy (615-2217 cGy), while the maximum dose on the spinal cord was 4110 cGy. Median lung volumes exposed to 1000 and 1500 cGy were 41.5% (12.2-54%) and 30.8% (8.1-43.9%), respectively. Acute toxicity Acute toxicity associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy is shown in Table 2. Odynophagia was the most frequent grade III toxicity (50%) which usually emerged in the 2nd week of chemoradiotherapy, worsened during the 3rd week, and gradually disappeared after the 5th and 6th weeks. Only one patient had low hemoglobin Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical value (grade II) which resolved spontaneously within 2 weeks after CRT. No Grade IV or higher Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical toxicity was observed. Acute toxicity reactions were generally acceptable and did not require any treatment discontinuation or interruption. Table 2 Acute (early) toxicity (n=20) Subacute and late toxicity Subacute and late effects of radiotherapy are shown in Table 3. Grade III or higher toxicity occurred in 15 patients (75%). Of the study subjects 9 (45%) had ≥ Grade III esophageal [upper gastrointestinal system (GIS)] reactions:

5 (20%) had esophageal perforation and bleeding, and 4 died due to severe gastrointestinal bleeding during the subacute stage (1.5-5 months). The maximum dose of radiotherapy in Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical patients with ≥ Grade III esophageal toxicity ranged between 5911 and 6153 cGy. Nine patients (45%) had Grade II lung toxicity that was not associated with severe symptoms and that was readily controlled with steroids and antibiotics. Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical In terms of cardiac effects, only one patient had pericardial effusion approximately 1.5 months after the treatment. Due to worsening Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical respiratory status, the patient required pericardiectomy for the treatment of cardiac tamponade. In this patient the maximum point dose on the heart, the average cardiac dose, and the dose received by the entire cardiac volume

were 6090 cGy, 3535 cGy and 380 cGy, respectively. No patients had L’Hermitte’s syndrome or myelitis. Table 3 Subacute and late toxicity (n=20) Efficacy of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy Thorax CT and/or PET-CT scan were used to determine tumor response. To avoid a possible damage to fragile esophageal tissue, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) was not used to confirm pathologic complete Tryptophan synthase response (pCR) after chemoradiotherapy. Radiologically, 8 patients (40%) had complete response, 8 (40%) had AMD3100 concentration partial response, and 3 (15%) had stable disease, with only 1 patient (5%) with progressive disease. Seven patients underwent surgery and had R0 resection, and in 6 (85%), pathological complete response was demonstrated. In 13 patients without surgery, 2 (15%) had radiological complete response at 6-month follow-up examination. Overall, 8 patients (40%) had local control. The median duration of follow-up was 13 months (range: 4-64 months).