Purpose:To study the effect of radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy on advanced esophageal cancer. Methods:124 cases of advanced esophageal cancer were treated from March 1990 to April 1995. Patients were divided into 2 groups, including simple irradiation group receiving conventional radiotherapy to a total of 65～70 Gy; combined group which received the same radiotherapy as simple irradiation group plus chemotherapy with DFP or DF regimen. Both groups were followed for 5 years. Results:The short term results of radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy was better than that of radiotherapy alone. The difference between these two groups was statistically significant (P