Abstract: ObjectiveTo observe the short-term effects and adverse effects of intensity-modulated radiation therapy combined with tegafur on elderly patients with esophageal cancer. MethodsA total of 64 elderly esophageal cancer patients without surgical treatment who were admitted into our hospital from 2013 to 2015 were enrolled. They were randomly divided into two groups: a radiotherapy and tegafur group (the combined treatment group, n=34) and a radiotherapy group (n=30). The total radiation dose was 50-60 Gy, 25 to 30 times and the single dose was 1.8-2.0 Gy, five times per week. Patients in the combined treatment group received 80 mg tegafur until the end of radiotherapy. ResultsThe total effective rate was 82.4% (28/34) for the combined treatment group which was remarkably different from 60.0% (18/30) for the radiotherapy group (P=0.047). The one-year survival rate was 50.0% (17/34) for the combined treatment group which was remarkably different from 43.3% (13/30) for the radiotherapy group. The complete response rate was 20.6% (7/34) for the combined treatment group which was remarkably different from 13.3% (4/30) for the radiotherapy group (P<0.05). The incidence rate of gastrointestinal tract reaction was 47.1% (16/34) for the combined treatment group which was remarkably different from 16.7% (5/30) for the radiotherapy group (P=0.010). The incidence rate of bone marrow suppression was 64.7% (22/34) for the combined treatment group which was remarkably different from 33.3% (10/30) for the radiotherapy group (P=0.012). ConclusionsThe combination of involved-field irradiation and tegafur can increase the complete remission rate, and the incidence rate of gastrointestinal tract reaction and bone marrow suppression which can be tolerant.