Prognostic significance of blood transfusions in patients with esophageal cancer treated with combined chemoradiotherapy.

Objective: Anemia occurs commonly in patients with esophageal cancer. This study evaluates the effect of blood transfusion on survival outcomes in patients with esophageal cancer treated with combined chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Patients And Methods: Fifty-six consecutive patients with unresectable esophageal cancer received 50 Gy in 25 fractions over 5 weeks concurrent with cycles 2 and 3 of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy.