Raltitrexed Concurrent With Radiotherapy for Elderly Chinese Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Esophagus

Inclusion Criteria: Histological or cytologic diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma. ECOG performance status 0-1. Age:70-85 years. Joined the study voluntarily and signed informed consent form Patients must not have received any prior anticancer therapy. Stage IIa-Ⅳa(AJCC 2002). Target lesions can be measured according to RECIST criteria. No serious system dysfunction and immuno-deficiency, Adequate organ function including the following: Hemoglobin ≥9 g/dL, WBC≥3x109/L, Neutrophils (ANC )≥1.5x109/L, platelet count ≥100x 109/L, TBIL\<1.5 x ULN, ALT and AST ≦ 2.5 x ULN, creatinine ≦ 1.5 x ULN. Exclusion Criteria: Multiple carcinomas of the esophagus. Biopsy-proven invasion of the tracheobronchial tree or tracheoesophageal fistula. Metastatic disease (M1b). A primary tumor that extended to within 2 cm of the gastroesophageal junction. Prior chemotherapy, prior thoracic radiation, surgical resection of the primary tumor. history of a second malignancy other than nonmelanoma skin cancer.