Abstract: Objective 　To evaluate the efficacy of the radiotherapy combined chemotherapy in t reating advanced esophageal cancer. Methods 　Sixty-eight cases of advanced esophageal cancer were divided into two groups randomly : thirty-six cases in the t reatment group and thirty-two cases in the cont rast group. The cases in the t reatment group t reated with the radiotherapy combined chemotherapy, and the cases in the cont rast group t reated with the radiotherapy simply. Results 　The total response rate of the t reatment group and the cont rast group was 88. 89 % and 62. 5 % respectively. The difference between the two groups was significant . The survival rate of 1, 2, 3 years of the t reatment group and the cont rast group were 63. 9 %, 50 %, 27. 8 % and 59. 3 %, 34. 3 %, 18. 8 % respectively. Conclusion 　Combination of the radiotherapy and chemotherapy was an effective way in the t reatment of patients with advanced esophageal cancer.