Objective:To evaluate the effect of radiotherapy combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy on patients with upper esophageal carcinoma.Methods:Forty-five patients with upper esophageal carcinoma were divided into two groups randomly. There were 23 patients in neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus radiotherapy group(CR)

and 22 patients in radiotherapy group(R).The regimen of neoadjuvant chemotherapy including cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil was administered.Two to three weeks after two cycles of chemotherapy

the patients were irradiated.Carmofur in CR group was administered in the period of late-course radiotherapy for four weeks

and the methods of radiotherapy were identical in two groups.Results:The 1

2

3-year survival rates were 73.91%

56.52% and 47.83% for CR group and 59.09%

31.82% and 18.18% for R group

and survival rates differed significantly(χ2=4.8112、P =0.0283)in two groups;however

more serious side effects were in CR group

but they could be tolerated by patients.Conclusions:Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with PF regimen plus radiotherapy may improve the outcome of upper esophageal carcinoma.