Esophageal cancer practice guidelines 2017 edited by the Japan Esophageal Society: part 1

The association between mortality and use of Chinese herbal medicine among incident stage IV esophageal cancer patients: A retrospective cohort study with core herbs exploration

Esophageal cancer (EC) remains a leading cause of death worldwide and in Taiwan. The prognosis of advanced-stage EC is notably poor, and the treatment options are limited. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been widely used as a complementary treatment for cancer, yet the long-term effect of CHM in stage IV EC remains unclear. The multi-institutional cohort obtained from the Chang Gung research database (CGRD) was used to study the long-term outcome of CHM use among incident stage IV EC patients from 1 January 2002, to 31 December 2018. All patients were followed up to 5 years or the occurrence of death. The overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival rates were conducted using Kaplan-Meier estimation. Overlap weighing and landmark analysis were used to eliminate confounding and immortal time biases. Furthermore, we demonstrated the core CHMs for stage IV EC by using the Chinese herbal medicine network (CMN) analysis on prescriptions. Nine hundred eighty-five stage IV EC patients were analyzed, including 74 CHM users and 911 non-CHM users. We found the use of CHM was associated with a higher 5-year overall survival rate than CHM nonusers (the cumulative probability: 19.52% versus 6.04%, log-rank test: p < 0.001, and the p < 0.001 with overlap weighting). In addition, the overall median survival time was about 7 months longer among CHM users. Moreover, the lower 1-, 3-, 5-year disease-specific survival rates were higher among CHM users. Additionally, the risk of all-cause mortality was lower among CHM users when considering accessible demographic covariates (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.39, 0.89, p = 0.011). Furthermore, the CMN analysis revealed that CHMs improved health while relieving tumor burden. For example, Hedyotis diffusa Willd . was the core CHM with an anti-cancer effect, while Fritillaria thunbergii Miq and Sevilla maindronide Rochebrune were used together to relieve cancer-related gastrointestinal discomfort. The use of CHM seems safe and possibly beneficial among stage IV EC patients with a higher 5-year OS. Further clinical trials on CHM were guaranteed to explore the role of CHM in managing stage IV EC patients.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer comparing cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil versus docetaxel plus cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil: a propensity score matching analysis

BACKGROUND

The standard treatment for locally advanced esophageal cancer is preoperative chemotherapy with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (CF), followed by surgery. Although docetaxel plus cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (DCF) has been reported to have favorable outcomes, no study has compared its therapeutic efficacy to that of standard treatment. This study aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of CF and DCF in the real world by matching patient background factors using propensity scores.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the data of 237 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent esophagectomy between January 2008 and December 2018. Patients were divided into two groups based on the preoperative chemotherapy regimens of CF (79 patients) or DCF (158 patients), and 49 matched pairs were finally analyzed using propensity score matching. Short- and long-term outcomes were compared between groups.

RESULTS

After matching, although no significant differences in survival were observed among the groups, patients receiving DCF showed a significantly high histological response (P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses demonstrated that DCF therapy had better overall survival (P = 0.046) and relapse-free survival (P = 0.010) among pathological T3 and T4 cases. Whereas, adverse effects of chemotherapy were more frequent in the DCF group.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients receiving DCF had higher pathological response and better survival than those receiving CF, especially in pathological T3 and T4 cases matched using propensity scores. Thus, the DCF regimen might be an effective treatment for locally advanced esophageal cancer. However, the adverse side effects of chemotherapy remain high and should be handled appropriately.

Association between masseter muscle sarcopenia and postoperative pneumonia in patients with esophageal cancer

Sarcopenia affects the swallowing and chewing muscles, such as the masseter muscle. However, the significance of masseter muscle loss in pneumonia remains unclear. We investigated the effects of masseter muscle sarcopenia (MMS) on postoperative pneumonia in patients with esophageal cancer. In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed the data of 86 patients who underwent esophagectomy for stage I-III esophageal cancer at our hospital between March 2013 and October 2021. The primary endpoint was postoperative pneumonia within 3 months of surgery. MMS was defined as a (1) masseter muscle index (MMI) that was less than the sex-specific MMI cutoff values, and (2) sarcopenia diagnosed using the L3-psoas muscle index (L3-PMI). Postoperative pneumonia was noted in 27 (31.3%) patients. In multivariate analysis, FEV1.0 < 1.5 L (odds ratio, OR: 10.3; 95% confidence interval, CI 1.56-67.4; p = 0.015), RLNP (OR: 5.14; 95%CI 1.47-17.9; p = 0.010), and MMS (OR: 4.83; 95%CI 1.48-15.8; p = 0.009) were independent risk factors for postoperative pneumonia. The overall survival was significantly worse in patients with pneumonia (log-rank: p = 0.01) than in those without pneumonia. Preoperative MMS may serve as a predictor of postoperative pneumonia in patients with esophageal cancer.

Study of preoperative diagnostic modalities in Chinese patients with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and magnifying endoscopy (ME) reliably determine indications for endoscopic resection in patients with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SESCC). ME is widely accepted for predicting the invasion depth of superficial esophageal cancer with satisfying accuracy. However, the addition of EUS is controversial.

AIM

To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of ME vs EUS for invasion depth prediction and investigate the influencing factors in patients with SESCC to determine the best diagnostic model in China.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed patients with suspected SESCC who completed both ME and EUS and then underwent endoscopic or surgical resection at Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center between January 2018 and December 2021. We evaluated and compared the diagnostic efficiency of EUS and ME according to histological results, and investigated the influencing factors.

RESULTS

We included 152 lesions from 144 patients in this study. The diagnostic accuracies of ME and EUS in differentiating invasion depth were not significantly different (73.0% and 66.4%, P = 0.24); both demonstrated moderate consistency with the pathological results (ME: kappa = 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.48-0.68, P < 0.01; EUS: kappa = 0.46, 95%CI: 0.34-0.57, P < 0.01). ME was significantly more accurate in the diagnosis of high-grade intraepithelial (HGIN) or carcinoma in situ (odds ratio [OR] = 3.62, 95%CI: 1.43-9.16, P = 0.007) subgroups. Using a miniature probe rather than conventional EUS can improve the accuracy of lesion depth determination (82.3% vs 49.3%, P < 0.01). Less than a quarter of circumferential occupation and application of a miniature probe were independent risk factors for the accuracy of tumor invasion depth as assessed by EUS (< 1/4 circumferential occupation: OR = 3.07, 95%CI: 1.04-9.10; application of a miniature probe: OR = 5.28, 95%CI: 2.41-11.59, P < 0.01). Of the 41 lesions (41/152, 27.0%) that were misdiagnosed by ME, 24 were corrected by EUS (24/41, 58.5%).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative diagnosis of SESCC should be conducted endoscopically using white light and magnification. In China, EUS can be added after obtaining patient consent. Use of a high-frequency miniature probe or miniature probe combined with conventional EUS is preferable.

Diagnosis and treatment of digestive cancers during COVID-19 in Japan: A Cancer Registry-based Study on the Impact of COVID-19 on Cancer Care in Osaka (CanReCO)

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affected cancer care in Japan, but the detailed impact on cancer diagnosis and treatment is not well-understood. We aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on digestive cancer care in Osaka Prefecture, which has a population of 8.8 million.

Methods

We conducted a multi-center cohort study, using hospital-based cancer registry (HBCR) data linked to administrative data from 66 designated cancer care hospitals in Osaka. Records of patients diagnosed with cancer of the stomach, colorectum, esophagus, liver, gallbladder or pancreas were extracted from the HBCR data. Baseline characteristics, such as the number of diagnoses, routes to diagnosis and clinical stage, were compared between patients diagnosed in 2019 and those in 2020. We also compared treatment patterns such as the number of treatments (operations, endoscopic surgeries, chemotherapies, radiotherapies), pathological stage and time to treatment for each digestive cancer.

Results

In total, 62,609 eligible records were identified. The number of diagnoses decreased in 2020, ranging from -1.9% for pancreatic cancer to -12.7% for stomach cancer. Screen-detected cases decreased in stomach and colorectal cancer. The percentage of clinical stage III slightly increased across different cancers, although it was only significant for colorectal cancer. Among 52,741 records analyzed for treatment patterns, the relative decrease in radiotherapy was larger than for other treatments. The median time from diagnosis to operation was shortened by 2–5 days, which coincided with the decrease in operations.

Conclusion

The impact of COVID-19 on cancer care in 2020 was relatively mild compared with other countries but was apparent in Osaka. Further investigation is needed to determine the most affected populations.

No survival benefit could be obtained from adjuvant radiotherapy in esophageal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery: A SEER-based analysis

Background

The aim of this study is to assess the clinical benefit of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) in patients with esophageal cancer (EC) who treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and surgery via a national population-based database.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with EC between 2004 and 2015 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to compare the overall survival (OS) and cause-specific survival (CSS) difference between PORT vs. no-radiotherapy (RT) groups before and after propensity score matching (PSM). After PSM for baseline characteristics, Cox proportional hazard regression was performed to investigate the factors associated with OS.

Results

A total of 321 patients were included in the analysis. Of them, 91 patients (28%) received PORT. In the unmatched population, the no-RT group had improved OS compared with PORT (44 vs. 25 months, p = 0.002), and CSS was similar in patients undergoing NAC with or without PORT (42 vs. 71 months, p = 0.17). After PSM for baseline characteristics, the OS benefit of the no-RT group over the PORT group remained significant with a median OS of 46 vs. 27 months (p = 0.02), and CSS remained comparable between groups (83 vs. 81 months, p = 0.49). In subgroup analyses, PORT did not improve the OS among patients with adenocarcinoma in the subgroups of cN0, cN1, and cN2–3 (all p &gt; 0.05). In Cox regression, aged ≥71 years old, cT3–4, cN2–3, and receiving PORT were independent predictors of worse OS, whereas cT4 and cN2–3 were independent predictors of worse CSS (all p &lt; 0.05).

Conclusions

The present study demonstrated that no survival benefit could be obtained from the additional use of PORT after NAC and surgery in patients with EC. Well-designed prospective trials are needed to confirm our findings.

Current perspectives of the Japanese Esophageal Oncology Group on the development of immunotherapy for esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer is the seventh most common cancer worldwide and continues to have a poor prognosis. Starting with the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors for patients with metastatic melanoma, many clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors against various malignancies. Although few effective drugs are available for patients with advanced esophageal cancer, two immune checkpoint inhibitors, nivolumab and pembrolizumab, have been approved as second-line treatments for advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown promising results as post-operative therapies and first-line treatments for advanced esophageal cancer. Nivolumab has been approved as a post-operative therapy based on the CheckMate-577 trial, and nivolumab, ipilimumab and pembrolizumab have been approved as first-line treatments based on the CheckMate-648 trial and the KEYNOTE-590 trial. In addition, many trials of immune checkpoint inhibitors plus pre-operative treatment or definitive chemoradiotherapy are ongoing. The Japan Esophageal Oncology Group was established in 1978 and has conducted numerous clinical trials, most of which have examined multimodality treatments. In the era of immunotherapy, Japan Esophageal Oncology Group is conducting a clinical trial studying multimodality treatment with an immune checkpoint inhibitor. JCOG1804E (FRONTiER) is a phase I trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of nivolumab plus pre-operative chemotherapy followed by surgery. These results might improve the clinical outcomes of esophageal cancer patients.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of pembrolizumab for patients with advanced esophageal cancer at PD-L1 combined positive score ≥10

Aim: Due to the high price of pembrolizumab, it is still unknown whether the use of pembrolizumab for advanced esophageal cancer would be a cost-effective option for patients whose PD-L1 combined positive score is ≥10. Methods: A Markov simulation model was performed based on clinical trial KEYNOTE-181. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated to compare the two treatments. Results: The total costs were US$193,575.60 and $8789.24 for pembrolizumab and chemotherapy treatment, respectively. The pembrolizumab group produced 0.93 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), while the chemotherapy group produced 0.58 QALYs. Thus, patients in the pembrolizumab group spent an additional US$184,786.36 and produced 0.35 QALYs more than the chemotherapy group, which resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of US$527,961.03 per QALY. Conclusion: For patients with advanced esophageal cancer whose PD-L1 combined positive score is ≥10, pembrolizumab is not a cost-effective second-line therapy versus chemotherapy from the US payer perspective.

Low mitochondrial DNA copy number induces chemotherapy resistance via epithelial-mesenchymal transition by DNA methylation in esophageal squamous cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most severe cancers and is characterized by chemotherapy resistance and poor prognosis associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In a previous study, a low mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number was associated with poorer prognosis and induced EMT in ESCC. However, the detailed mechanism related to mtDNA copy number and EMT is unclear. The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanism by which a change in mtDNA copy number contributes to EMT and to examine treatment of chemotherapy resistance in ESCC.

METHODS

The association between low mtDNA copy number and chemotherapy resistance was investigated using specimens from 88 patients who underwent surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Then, the mtDNA content of human ESCC cell lines, TE8 and TE11, was depleted by knockdown of mitochondrial transcription factor A expression. The present study focused on modulation of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and DNA methylation as the mechanisms by which mtDNA copy number affects EMT. mRNA and protein expression, chemotherapy sensitivity, proliferation, MMP and DNA methylation were evaluated, and in vitro and in vivo assays were conducted to clarify these mechanisms.

RESULTS

ESCC patients with decreased mtDNA copy number who underwent R0 resection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy had significantly worse pathological response and recurrence-free survival. Additionally, low mtDNA copy number was associated with resistance to chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo. mtDNA controlled MMP, and MMP depolarization induced EMT. Depletion of mtDNA and low MMP induced DNA methylation via a DNA methylation transcription factor (DNMT), and a DNMT inhibitor suppressed EMT and improved chemotherapy sensitivity in mtDNA-depleted ESCC cells, as shown by in vitro and in vivo assays.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that decreased mtDNA copy number induced EMT via modulation of MMP and DNA methylation in ESCC. Therapeutic strategies increasing mtDNA copy number and DNMT inhibitors may be effective in preventing EMT and chemosensitivity resistance.

Optimal settings of near-infrared fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green for intraoperative detection of lymph node metastasis in esophageal cancer

Lymphatic flow mapping using near-infrared fluorescence (NIR) imaging with indocyanine green (ICG) has been used for intraoperative diagnosis of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in various cancers. Accurate prediction of LNM intraoperatively may allow minimization of the extent of lymphadenectomy. However, a consistent method and diagnostic ability, allowing application of NIR-guided lymphatic flow mapping to esophageal cancer (EC), have not been established due to the multidirectional and complex characteristics of lymphatic flow in the esophagus. Herein, we present a novel NIR-guided surgical technique for predicting lymph node stations potentially containing LNM in EC with high diagnostic accuracy derived from appropriately adjusting the ICG injection setting.

Management of elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer

This review focuses on the treatment about elderly esophageal cancer to clarify the current situation regarding our clinical question. Although there are several reviews about elderly esophageal cancer treatment, there are fundamental differences between Japan and the rest of the world. Two main differences are raised: histological differences and treatment strategies for resectable patients. We overview each status according to following clinical questions. First, there are no established evaluation criteria for frail. Second, selection criteria for surgery or non-surgery are not established. Third, few specific treatments for elderly patients (EPs) are investigated. In conclusion, there are many reports about treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma for EPs, although treatment strategy is still controversial. We have to consider well-designed prospective trial to confirm specific treatment strategy according to each stage.

Efficacy and safety of radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors for locally advanced stages of esophageal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Radiotherapy (RT)/Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) are important treatments for all stages of esophageal cancer (EC). The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) with RT/CRT seems to be promising avenue for the treatment of EC. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis was performed in order to assess the safety and efficacy of RT/CRT and ICI combination therapy for EC patients.

Methods

PubMed and several other databases were searched (according to specific criteria) to find relevant studies published prior to the 31st of December 2021.

Results

1962 articles were identified for screening, and six trials containing 668 patients were identified and pooled to determine the one- and two-year overall survival (OS), which were 84.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 69.9%-100%) and 68.3% (95% CI: 49.0%-95.1%), respectively. Additionally, the rate of pooled grade 3-5 adverse reactions was 41.0% (95% CI: 31.2%-51.2%). The rate of specific grade 3-5 adverse reactions are as follows: lymphopenia (36.8%-60%), esophagitis (20%), anastomotic leakage (18%), esophageal fistula (10%), pain (10%), leukopenia (5.3%-10%), esophageal hemorrhage (2.5%-5%), chyle leakage (3%), fatigue (5%), cough (2.7%-5%), diarrhea (2.7%), pulmonary embolism (2.5%) and allergic reaction (2.5%). The pooled rate of pneumonitis of grade 3-5 and grade 1-5 was 0.8% (95% CI: 0.1%-0.16%, I2: 0%) and 5.4% (95% CI: 2.0%-14.2%, I2: 82%). For thoracic complication, esophagitis was 63.6% (95% CI: 42.4%-80.6%), which appeared to be more frequent with the combination of ICIs to RT/CRT (12%-37.7%). Other thoracic complications include esophageal hemorrhage (2.5%-10%), esophageal fistula (6%-10%) and anastomotic leakage (6%-21%). Additionally, some of the trials did not report cardiac related adverse reactions. The subgroup analyses also revealed that the pooled rate patients with grade 3-5 pneumonitis was higher for CRT/RT with concurrent and sequential ICI treatment (1.9%) than other groups (0.8%).

Conclusion

This study suggests that the addition of ICIs to RT/CRT for EC patients may be both safe and feasible. However, larger randomized studies are needed to confirm these results.

Management of Superficial Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Early Gastric Cancer following Non-Curative Endoscopic Resection

According to the European and Japanese guidelines, additional treatment is recommended for cases of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and early gastric cancer (EGC) that do not meet the curability criteria for endoscopic resection (ER), i.e., non-curative ER, owing to the risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM). However, the rates of LNM in such cases were relatively low (e.g., 8% for EGC). Several recent advances have been made in this field. First, pathological risk stratification for metastatic recurrence following non-curative ER without additional treatment was developed for both superficial ESCC and EGC. Second, the pattern of metastatic recurrence and prognosis after recurrence following non-curative ER without additional treatment was found to be considerably different between superficial ESCC and EGC. Third, a combination of ER and selective chemoradiotherapy was developed as a minimally invasive treatment method for clinical T1b-SM ESCC. These findings may help clinicians decide the treatment strategy for patients following non-curative ER; however, for optimal therapeutic decision-making in such patients, it is also important to predict the prognosis other than SESCC or EGC and impaired quality of life. Thus, a novel algorithm that considers these factors, as well as metastatic recurrence, should be developed.

Absolute lymphocyte count and C-reactive protein-albumin ratio can predict prognosis and adverse events in patients with recurrent esophageal cancer treated with nivolumab therapy

Predicting the prognosis and adverse events (AEs) of nivolumab therapy for recurrent esophageal cancer is very important. The present study investigated whether a simple blood biochemical examination could be used to predict prognosis and AEs following nivolumab treatment for relapse of esophageal cancer. A total of 41 patients who received nivolumab treatment for recurrent esophageal cancer after esophagectomy were analyzed. The absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and C-reactive protein-albumin ratio (CAR) were assessed at the time of nivolumab induction as indices that can be calculated by blood biochemical examinations alone. Median values were 1,015 for ALC, 3.401 for NLR, 242.6 for PLR, 0.458 for MLR and 0.119 for CAR, and patients were divided into two groups according to values. A high ALC, low NLR, low PLR, low MLR and low CAR were associated with a better response to nivolumab. In addition, patients with the aforementioned indices, with the exception of low PLR, or better response were more likely to develop AEs in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, a high ALC [odds ratio (OR): 4.857, P=0.043] and low CAR (OR: 9.099, P=0.004) were identified as independent risk factors for AEs. Survival analysis revealed that overall survival and progression-free survival (PFS) rates after nivolumab treatment differed significantly between the high and low groups of ALC, NLR, PLR, MLR and CAR. The multivariate analysis identified a low ALC [hazard ratio (HR): 3.710, P=0.003] and high CAR (HR: 2.953, P=0.007) as independent poor prognostic factors of PFS. In conclusion, ALC and CAR have potential as biomarkers for outcomes of recurrent esophageal cancer following nivolumab treatment.

Efficacy and Safety of Apatinib plus Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cancer: A Phase II Trial

Evidence for neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with targeted therapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cancer (ESCC) is inadequate. We conducted a single-arm phase II trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of apatinib combined with taxol and cisplatin (ATP) for locally advanced ESCC. All patients were cT3-4aN0-3 M0 (IIIb-IVa) stage, which were confirmed by histopathology. Apatinib was taken orally (425 mg/d) for two cycles, followed by one cycle of rest. Taxol was administered at 135 mg/m² intravenously on day 1, and cisplatin was administered at 20 mg/m² intravenously on day 1 to day 3. Radical ESCC resection was performed 4 weeks after ATP. The primary endpoint was pathological response rate (pCR). Secondary endpoints were pathologic response rate (MPR), disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), R0 resection rate, and safety profile. This trial was registered. We evaluated 41 patients for screening from Oct 2018 to July 2020, of whom 39 were enrolled in the study, with a median age of 65 years (range 49-75 years), and 29 (74.4%) were male. Among the 39 patients, 1 was considered unresectable by the multidisciplinary team due to tumor progression, and 38 patients underwent surgery eventually. The median follow-up was 22 months (range 5-29 months), and the follow-up rate was 100%. The 1-year and 2-year OS was 95% and 95%, and the 1-year and 2-year DFS was 85% and 82%, respectively. Thirty-eight (97.3%) successfully underwent R0 resection. Of the 38 evaluable patients, 9 (23.6%) were pCR, and 15 (39.5%) were MPR. The most common ATP-related AEs were nausea (76.9%), leucopenia (53.8%), neutropenia (51.2%) and vomit (51.2%), anemia (41.0%), and hypertension (25.6%). The most frequent grade 3-4 events included leucopenia (15.3%), neutropenia (15.3%), nausea (12.8%), vomit (12.8%), and hypertension (10.2%). No treatment-related death occurred. Neoadjuvant apatinib combined with taxol and cisplatin for locally advanced ESCC showed favorable activity and manageable safety.

Long-Term Clinical Outcomes and Safety Analysis of Superficial Esophageal Cancer Patients Treated with Definitive or Adjuvant Radiotherapy

(1) Background: The role of radiotherapy (RT) in superficial esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) remains unclear. The objective of our study was to perform a detailed outcome and safety analysis of RT as a definitive or adjuvant treatment for T1N0M0 staged ESCC patients. (2) Methods: A total of 55 patients treated with endoscopic resection (ER) + RT/concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) or RT/CCRT from January 2011 to June 2021 were included in this study. Eighteen patients with risk factors received ER + RT/CCRT, and thirty-seven patients solely received RT/CCRT. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to calculate the clinical outcomes, and toxicities were scored. (3) Results: The median follow-up time was 51.9 months. The estimated 5-year local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) and overall survival (OS) were 88.9% and 94.4% in the ER + RT/CCRT group and 91.8% and 91.7% in the RT/CCRT group. The predominant failure pattern was in-field local failure (5.5%, 3/55), with one patient in the ER + RT/CCRT group and two patients in the RT/CCRT group. One patient (1.8%, 1/55) had lung metastasis in the RT/CCRT group. The most common toxicities were Grades 1-2 in all patients, including esophagitis (74.5%, 41/55), myelosuppression (49.1%, 27/55) and esophageal stricture after RT (27.3%, 15/55). Two patients (11.1%, 2/18) and four patients (10.8%, 4/37) had Grade 3 esophageal stricture after RT in the ER + RT/CCRT group and RT/CCRT group, respectively. No patients experienced a Grade 4 or higher toxicity, and there were no treatment-related deaths. (4) Conclusions: Definitive or adjuvant RT/CCRT is an effective treatment alternative for superficial ESCC patients with satisfactory clinical outcomes and acceptable toxicities.

Fecal Microbes Associated with the Outcomes After Esophagectomy in Patients with Esophageal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Although accumulating evidence suggests that an imbalanced gut microbiota leads to cancer progression, few studies demonstrated the implication in patients who underwent oncologic esophagectomy. This study aimed to elucidate the association between gut microbes and the outcomes after oncologic esophagectomy, as well as the host's inflammatory/nutritional status.

METHODS

Overall, 783 consecutive patients who underwent oncologic esophagectomy were eligible. We investigated the microbiota detected by fecal culture tests and then assessed the association between the gut microbiota and patient characteristics, short-term outcomes, and long-term survival.

RESULTS

Seventeen different species could be cultivated. We comprehensively examined the impact of each detected microbe on survival. The presence of Bacillus species (Bacillus sp.; 26.8%) was associated with favorable prognosis on overall and cancer-specific survival (p = 0.02 and 0.02, respectively). Conversely, the presence of Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis; 3.4%) was associated with unfavorable overall and recurrence-free survivals (p = 0.02 and < 0.01, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of P. mirabilis was one of the independent prognostic factors for poor recurrence-free survival (p < 0.01). Patients with Bacillus sp. had lower modified Glasgow prognostic score and better response to preoperative treatment than those without (p = 0.01 and 0.03, respectively). Meanwhile, patients with P. mirabilis were significantly associated with higher systemic inflammation scores and increased postoperative pneumonia incidence than those without (p = 0.01 and 0.02, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative fecal microbiota was associated with the host's inflammatory and nutritional status and may influence the outcomes after oncologic esophagectomy.

Lymphatic invasion is a prognostic factor of pathological N0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Adjuvant treatment after upfront esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is indicated only for patients with lymph node metastasis in Japan. However, the recurrence rate after curative resection is high even for node-negative patients; thus, understanding the prognostic factors for patients with node-negative ESCC, which still remains unidentified, is important. Here, we aimed to reveal the prognostic factors for the long-term outcomes of patients with node-negative ESCC. Moreover, we compared the long-term outcomes among high-risk node-negative and node-positive patients. This single-institution retrospective study included 103 patients with pT1b-3N0 ESCC who underwent upfront surgery to identify the population at a high risk of recurrence. To compare overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) between high-risk node-negative and node-positive patients, 51 node-positive ESCC patients with pStage IIIA or less who had undergone upfront surgery were also included. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazard regression model. OS and RFS were compared using the log-rank test. Only lymphatic invasion (Ly+) was associated with worse 3-year OS (hazard ratio, 8.63; 95% confidence interval, 2.09-35.69; P = 0.0029) and RFS (hazard ratio, 4.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.69-14.02; P = 0.0034). The node-negative and Ly+ patients showed significantly worse OS (P = 0.0242) and RFS (P = 0.0114) than the node-positive patients who underwent chemotherapy. Ly+ is the only independent prognostic factor in patients with node-negative ESCC. Patients with node-negative and Ly+ ESCC may benefit from adjuvant treatment.

Comparison of Recurrence Patterns and Salvage Treatments After Definitive Radiotherapy for cT1a and cT1bN0M0 Esophageal Cancer

Background

Definitive radiotherapy (RT) for stage I esophageal cancer was reported to result in noninferior overall survival (OS) compared with surgery. However, only a few detailed reports of recurrence patterns and subsequent salvage treatments have been published. This study aimed to compare recurrence patterns and subsequent salvage treatments after definitive RT or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) between cT1a and cT1bN0M0 esophageal cancer (EC).

Methods

Patients with cT1a or cT1bN0M0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received definitive RT or CRT were included. Survival outcomes, recurrence patterns, and salvage treatments were evaluated.

Results

In total, 40 patients with EC receiving RT or CRT were divided into two groups for evaluation: cT1a (20 patients) and cT1b (20 patients) groups. The 3-year OS rates were 83% and 65% (p = 0.06) and the 3-year progression-free survival rates were 68% and 44% (p = 0.15) in the cT1a and cT1b groups, respectively. Among those in the cT1a group, six had local recurrence and two had metachronous recurrence. Seven patients underwent salvage endoscopic submucosal dissection and one patient received argon plasma coagulation treatment. Among those in the cT1b group, six had local recurrence, one had regional recurrence, and one had both. Of these, one underwent salvage endoscopic submucosal dissection, one received photodynamic therapy, three underwent surgery, one received RT, and two received the best supportive care. Compared with the cT1b group, the cT1a group had a higher proportion of patients who underwent endoscopic treatments (p = 0.007). After the endoscopic treatments, no recurrences were observed in both groups.

Conclusions

Regional recurrence and distant metastasis were not observed in the cT1a group. A higher proportion of patients in the cT1a group received salvage endoscopic treatments, and their OS tended to be favorable.

Predictive Ability of the Five-time Chair Stand Test for Postoperative Pneumonia after Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer

BACKGROUND

The revised sarcopenia guidelines proposed handgrip strength (HGS) and five-time chair stand test (5-CST) as the primary parameters of muscle function. HGS and 5-CST are associated with pulmonary function among community-dwelling people, although few reports have described an association between these parameters and surgical outcomes in carcinomas. We examined the predictive ability of 5-CST for postoperative pneumonia after minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) compared with that of HGS.

METHODS

This retrospective, single-center, observational study evaluated 222 male patients who underwent MIE for esophageal cancer between February 2018 and October 2020. Sarcopenia parameters included 5-CST, HGS, and skeletal muscle index. Postoperative pneumonia predictors were determined by using multivariate logistic regression analysis. We assessed the net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) to analyze the predictive ability of 5-CST and HGS.

RESULTS

MIE was performed for squamous cell carcinoma (n = 179), adenocarcinoma (n = 38), and other cancers (n = 5). Forty-nine (22.1%) patients developed postoperative pneumonia. Multivariate logistic regression showed that age (odds ratio [OR] 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.10; p = 0.027), 5-CST (OR, 1.19; 95% CI 1.00-1.40; p = 0.046), and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (RLNP) (OR, 3.37; 95% CI 1.60-7.10; p = 0.001) significantly predicted postoperative pneumonia. Category-free NRI and IDI showed that adding 5-CST in the prediction model with age and RLNP resulted in significantly greater reclassification and discrimination abilities than did HGS.

CONCLUSIONS

The 5-CST significantly predicted postoperative pneumonia after MIE. NRI and IDI analyses suggested that 5-CST had significantly better predictive ability for postoperative pneumonia than did HGS.

Prophylactic supraclavicular lymph node dissection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The supraclavicular lymph nodes (SCLNs) have been regarded as regional nodes for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in Japan and eastern Asian countries, whereas their involvement has been regarded as distant metastasis in Western countries. The importance of thorough dissection of the lymphatic chain along the recurrent laryngeal nerve, including the cervical paraesophageal nodes, has become well understood; therefore, the contemporary clinical question is whether prophylactic SCLN dissection (SLND) in addition to cervical paraesophageal node dissection is beneficial for patients with ESCC. We analyzed studies comparing esophagectomy with SLND vs. esophagectomy without SLND, in both of which cervical paraesophageal node dissection had been completed, based on a comprehensive literature search of the PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases. Our meta-analysis focused on two long-term outcomes: 3-year and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates; and three short-term outcomes: pneumonia, recurrent nerve palsy, and anastomotic leakage. Four studies, with a collective total of 1584 patients were included in the review. No significant differences were found between esophagectomy with SLND vs. esophagectomy without SLND in the meta-analysis of both long-term (3-year and 5-year OS; risk ratio 1.09, 95% CI 0.94-1.26, P = 0.28, and risk ratio 1.14, 95% CI 0.96-1.35, P = 0.15, respectively) and short-term outcomes. Based on our analysis, no clear data support prophylactic SLND on the cervical paraesophageal node dissection.

Correlation between TXNRD1/HO-1 expression and response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) are both involved in the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway and play key roles in antioxidant responses. In patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the correlation between the expression of these two proteins and the therapeutic response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (NACRT), as well as the difference in their expression after chemoradiotherapy, remains unknown.

METHODS

Proteins involved in the Nrf2 pathway were immunolocalized in carcinoma cells in ESCC patients on NACRT with 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin, followed by esophagectomy. The 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels were used to quantify reactive oxygen species. The changes in immunoreactivity before and after NACRT (Δ) were assessed.

RESULTS

Tumor reduction following NACRT was significantly attenuated in pre-therapeutic biopsy specimens associated with high HO-1 status. TXNRD1Δ, HO-1Δ, and 8-OHdGΔ were significantly different in the ineffective and effective groups. The overall survival was significantly lower in high Nrf2 and TXNRD1 groups. In addition, high TXNRD1 expression was an independent prognostic factor in the multivariate analysis of overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

The study findings indicate that HO-1 status in pre-therapeutic biopsy specimens could predict response to NACRT, and TXNRD1 status could predict overall survival of ESCC patients.

Repeat endoscopic submucosal dissection as salvage treatment for local recurrence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after initial endoscopic submucosal dissection

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Local recurrence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after endoscopic resection does not have an established treatment. The efficacy and safety of repeat endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for recurrent ESCC were determined in the study.

METHODS

Forty-three consecutive patients with 45 locally recurrent superficial ESCC lesions undergoing repeat ESD and 909 first ESD lesions for propensity score matching (PSM) at Zhongshan Hospital between January 2011 and January 2020 were retrospectively enrolled. After PSM (1:2), operation-related parameters were compared between repeat ESD and first ESD. In the repeat ESD group, the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests were used for identification of risk factors for local recurrence after repeat ESD.

RESULTS

As compared with propensity score-matched first ESD, rates of complete resection (86.7% vs 97.8%, P = .02) and curative resection (86.7% vs 96.7%, P = .06) were lower and procedure duration (54.8 ± 21.7 minutes vs 46.2 ± 20.6 minutes, P = .67) and hospital stay (4.3 ± 1.8 days vs 2.9 ± 1.4 days, P = .25) were longer in the repeat ESD group. The en-bloc resection rate (93.3% vs 98.8%, P > .11) remained comparable. Adverse events including bleeding (4.4% vs 0%, P = .11), perforation (.0% vs .0%, P > .99), and stricture (6.7% vs 2.2%, P = .33) presented with no difference. The 5-year overall survival rate and recurrence-free survival rate for repeat ESD was 100% and 86.0%, respectively. Multiplicity was significantly associated with recurrence after repeat ESD (P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Repeat esophageal ESD showed favorable short- and long-term outcomes and thus provides an alternative choice for recurrent superficial ESCC.

Feasibility study of adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 after curative esophagectomy following neoadjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

Despite advances in surgical techniques, long-term survival after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer remains unacceptably low, and more effective perioperative chemotherapy is expected. However, an important concern regarding the application of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy is treatment toxicity. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 in patients after esophagectomy.

METHODS

We investigated the tolerability of a 2-week administration followed by 1-week rest regimen of S1 as postoperative adjuvant therapy in 20 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and 22 patients who did not receive NAC during 2011-2020.

RESULTS

In the non-NAC group, the mean and median relative dose intensity (RDI) were 78.7% and 99.4%, respectively, and 11 patients (50%) had altered treatment schedules. The corresponding rates in the NAC group were 77.9% and 100%, respectively, and nine patients (45%) had altered treatment schedules, with no significant difference among the groups. Moreover, 17 patients (77.2%) in the non-NAC group and 16 patients (80.0%) in the NAC group continued S-1 treatment as planned for one year postoperatively, with no significant difference in the S-1 continuation rate (p = 0.500). Seventeen of 22 patients (77.3%) and 15 of 20 patients (75.0%) experienced several adverse events in the non-NAC and NAC groups, respectively. The frequency, severity, and type of adverse events were consistent among patients with and without NAC.

CONCLUSIONS

S-1 could be safely and continuously administered as adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with esophageal cancer regardless of NAC. Long-term prognosis should be evaluated for S-1 to become the standard treatment after esophagectomy.

Automated Surgical-Phase Recognition for Robot-Assisted Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy Using Artificial Intelligence

BACKGROUND

Although a number of robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) procedures have been performed due to three-dimensional field of view, image stabilization, and flexible joint function, both the surgeons and surgical teams require proficiency. This study aimed to establish an artificial intelligence (AI)-based automated surgical-phase recognition system for RAMIE by analyzing robotic surgical videos.

METHODS

This study enrolled 31 patients who underwent RAMIE. The videos were annotated into the following nine surgical phases: preparation, lower mediastinal dissection, upper mediastinal dissection, azygos vein division, subcarinal lymph node dissection (LND), right recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) LND, left RLN LND, esophageal transection, and post-dissection to completion of surgery to train the AI for automated phase recognition. An additional phase ("no step") was used to indicate video sequences upon removal of the camera from the thoracic cavity. All the patients were divided into two groups, namely, early period (20 patients) and late period (11 patients), after which the relationship between the surgical-phase duration and the surgical periods was assessed.

RESULTS

Fourfold cross validation was applied to evaluate the performance of the current model. The AI had an accuracy of 84%. The preparation (p = 0.012), post-dissection to completion of surgery (p = 0.003), and "no step" (p < 0.001) phases predicted by the AI were significantly shorter in the late period than in the early period.

CONCLUSIONS

A highly accurate automated surgical-phase recognition system for RAMIE was established using deep learning. Specific phase durations were significantly associated with the surgical period at the authors' institution.

Usefulness of Procalcitonin as a Predictor of Long-Term Prognosis in the Early Postoperative Period after Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels after esophagectomy and infectious complications and long-term prognosis. A total of 105 patients who underwent esophagectomy between 2012 and 2019 were stratified into two groups: PCT-High group of ≥1 ng/mL and PCT-Low group of <1 ng/mL. The clinical outcomes and prognostic factors were compared between the two groups 2 postoperative days (POD), 4 POD, and 7 POD after esophagectomy. As the postoperative days passed, the association between PCT and infectious complications became stronger, and the positive predictive value was 100% at 7 POD. At 2 POD, there was no significant association between PCT elevation and infectious complications. Patients in the PCT-Low group had significantly worse overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) than those in the PCT-High group at 2 POD (p = 0.026 and p = 0.011, respectively). In multivariate analysis, advanced pathological stage (hazard ratio (HR), 5.348; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.299−12.500; p < 0.001) and PCT-Low group at 2 POD (HR, 3.673; 95% CI, 1.116−12.092; p = 0.032) were also independent predictors of worse OS. PCT in the early postoperative period after esophagectomy could be a good predictor of prognosis.

Application Value of Gastroenterography Combined With CT in the Evaluation of Short-Term Efficacy and Prognosis in Patients With Esophageal Cancer Radiotherapy

Purpose

To observe the application value of gastroenterography combined with CT in the evaluation of short-term efficacy and prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer radiotherapy.

Methods

From January 2013 to December 2020, the clinical data of 207 patients with esophageal cancer treated by radiotherapy in our hospital were collected retrospectively. All patients received gastroenterography and CT examination before and after radiotherapy, and the patients were followed-up for 1 year, and the evaluation value of their short-term efficacy and prognosis was observed.

Results

After radiotherapy, the length diameter, short diameter, and volume of the lymph node were lower than those before radiotherapy (p < 0.05), but the maximum tube wall thickness had no significant difference (p > 0.05). The length diameter, short diameter, and volume of the lymph node, and the maximum tube wall thickness in the good efficacy group and the good prognosis group were lower, and the objective response rate in the good prognosis group was higher (p < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of the length diameter, short diameter, and volume of the lymph node to evaluate the short-term efficacy of patients with esophageal cancer was 0.738, 0.705, and 0.748, respectively, and the AUC to evaluate the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer was 0.751, 0.776, and 0.791, respectively.

Conclusion

Gastroenterography combined with CT has a good application value in the evaluation of short-term efficacy and prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer radiotherapy.

Prognostic impact of carcinoembryonic antigen in 1822 surgically treated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: multi-institutional study of the Japan Esophageal Society

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have evaluated the clinicopathological significance of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) of esophageal cancer in relatively small numbers of patients. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the prognostic significance of CEA in 1822 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

METHODS

Based on the Japanese Esophageal Society nationwide multi-institutional retrospective study, a total of 1,748 surgically treated ESCC from 15 hospitals were enrolled to evaluate prognostic impact of preoperative CEA values. Among them, 605 patients were categorized to up-front surgery group, and 1,217 patients were categorized to neoadjuvant therapy group. The CEA threshold for positivity was 3.7 ng/ml. The clinicopathological and prognostic impact of CEA was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis in each treatment modality groups.

RESULTS

In total, the CEA positive rate was 25.8% (470/1822). CEA-positive status was significantly associated with distant metastasis (P = 0.004) but not associated with other factors. CEA-positive status was associated with poor overall survival (P < 0.001) in univariate analysis as well as multivariate analysis (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

CEA was an independent prognostic determinant of overall survival in esophageal SCC. Based on the subgroup analysis, regardless of the treatment modality, patients with high pretreatment CEA showed poor overall survival.

Impact of frailty on the long-term outcomes of elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to clarify the association between frailty evaluated using the clinical frailty scale (CFS) and outcomes in elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODS

We retrospectively included 67 patients (aged ≥ 75 years) diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (tumor depth ≥ m3) between 2011 and 2016. The patients were retrospectively evaluated and categorized according to their CFS scores (1-7) and divided into non-frailty (scores 1-2) and frailty groups (scores 3-7). Postoperative complications, 5 year survival rate, and prognostic risk factors were analyzed.

RESULTS

Significant differences in performance status, American Society of Anesthesiologists-Physical Status score, Charlson comorbidity index, and treatment type were observed between the two groups. Thirty-six patients underwent surgery, and morbidities with Clavien-Dindo grades ≥ II and ≥ IIIa were found in 72.2 and 47.2% of the patients, respectively. The remaining 31 patients underwent endoscopic resection and/or chemo (radio) therapy. The morbidity rate did not differ between the two groups. The 5 year survival rate was 75.3% overall and 92.7 and 60.8% in patients in the non-frailty and frailty groups, respectively (p = 0.007). Multivariate analysis revealed that frailty and cStage ≥ II were independent risk factors of overall survival (p = 0.005 and p = 0.013, respectively) and disease-specific survival (p = 0.048 and p = 0.027, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Frailty greatly impacts the prognosis of elderly patients with esophageal cancer, regardless of surgical or nonsurgical treatment. The CFS score could be a useful prognostic predictor.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial gastrointestinal lesions: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline - Update 2022

ESGE recommends that the evaluation of superficial gastrointestinal (GI) lesions should be made by an experienced endoscopist, using high definition white-light and chromoendoscopy (virtual or dye-based).ESGE does not recommend routine performance of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron emission tomography (PET)-CT prior to endoscopic resection.ESGE recommends endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) as the treatment of choice for most superficial esophageal squamous cell and superficial gastric lesions.For Barrett's esophagus (BE)-associated lesions, ESGE suggests the use of ESD for lesions suspicious of submucosal invasion (Paris type 0-Is, 0-IIc), for malignant lesions > 20 mm, and for lesions in scarred/fibrotic areas.ESGE does not recommend routine use of ESD for duodenal or small-bowel lesions.ESGE suggests that ESD should be considered for en bloc resection of colorectal (but particularly rectal) lesions with suspicion of limited submucosal invasion (demarcated depressed area with irregular surface pattern or a large protruding or bulky component, particularly if the lesions are larger than 20 mm) or for lesions that otherwise cannot be completely removed by snare-based techniques.ESGE recommends that an en bloc R0 resection of a superficial GI lesion with histology no more advanced than intramucosal cancer (no more than m2 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma), well to moderately differentiated, with no lymphovascular invasion or ulceration, should be considered a very low risk (curative) resection, and no further staging procedure or treatment is generally recommended.ESGE recommends that the following should be considered to be a low risk (curative) resection and no further treatment is generally recommended: an en bloc R0 resection of a superficial GI lesion with superficial submucosal invasion (sm1), that is well to moderately differentiated, with no lymphovascular invasion, of size ≤ 20 mm for an esophageal squamous cell carcinoma or ≤ 30 mm for a stomach lesion or of any size for a BE-related or colorectal lesion, and with no lymphovascular invasion, and no budding grade 2 or 3 for colorectal lesions.ESGE recommends that, after an endoscopically complete resection, if there is a positive horizontal margin or if resection is piecemeal, but there is no submucosal invasion and no other high risk criteria are met, this should be considered a local-risk resection and endoscopic surveillance or re-treatment is recommended rather than surgery or other additional treatment.ESGE recommends that when there is a diagnosis of lymphovascular invasion, or deeper infiltration than sm1, or positive vertical margins, or undifferentiated tumor, or, for colorectal lesions, budding grade 2 or 3, this should be considered a high risk (noncurative) resection, and complete staging and strong consideration for additional treatments should be considered on an individual basis in a multidisciplinary discussion.ESGE recommends scheduled endoscopic surveillance with high definition white-light and chromoendoscopy (virtual or dye-based) with biopsies of only the suspicious areas after a curative ESD.

Selective Lymphadenectomy for Salvage Esophagectomy in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Extensive lymph node dissection increases the risk of postoperative complications, especially in salvage surgery, after definitive chemoradiotherapy (≥ 50 Gy) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The purpose of this retrospective study is to compare the outcomes of salvage esophagectomy with selective lymphadenectomy of only clinically positive lymph nodes.

METHODS

Clinically positive lymph nodes, diagnosed as metastases using computed and positron emission tomography performed before chemoradiotherapy or salvage surgery, were targeted for dissection in selective lymphadenectomy. We compared postoperative complications between 52 patients who underwent salvage esophagectomy with selective lymphadenectomy and 207 controls who underwent nonsalvage esophagectomy with 3-field lymphadenectomy. We also analyzed postoperative recurrence pattern and survival in salvage group.

RESULTS

The mean number of dissected lymph nodes was 12.9 in the salvage esophagectomy group compared with 48.1 in the 3-field lymphadenectomy group (p < 0.001). Differences in the number of postoperative complications, comparing Clavien-Dindo all-grade and ≥ grade 3, were not significant between the groups. Both 30- and 90-day mortality were 0% (0/52) in the salvage group. Five cases had recurrence only in the locoregional area without distant metastasis. Of these five cases, only one had recurrence in the subcarinal lymph node without prophylactic mediastinal lymphadenectomy. A 3-year recurrence-free survival and 3-year overall survival from salvage esophagectomy were 43.3% and 46.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

It may contribute to obtaining good short- and long-term outcomes by dissecting only clinically positive lymph nodes in salvage esophagectomy.

Utility of Concurrent Surgical Treatment Strategy with Thoracoscopic Esophagectomy for Patients with Synchronous Esophageal and Head and Neck Cancer

Background: Patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) have a high frequency to coincide with head and neck cancer (HNC). This study aims to analyze the treatment results and prognosis of patients with synchronous ESCC and HNC. Methods: From January 2016 to December 2019, 5 patients underwent concurrent surgical resection of synchronous ESCC and HNC in our institution. We retrospectively reviewed the surgical outcomes and prognosis of these patients with synchronous ESCC and HNC (HNEC group) and compared the results with those of 20 patients who underwent esophagectomy with three regional lymph node dissections for ESCC during the same period (EC group). Results: The locations of HNCs were pharynx/tongue (4/1) and the clinical stages were Stage IV in all patients. Meanwhile, the clinical stages of ESCCs were Stages 0/I/II/III (1/1/2/1). All patients underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy. The surgical procedures concurrently performed for HNC were pharyngolaryngectomy with free jejunum transfer in 3 patients, wide tongue and mandibular segment resection with mandibular reconstruction in 1 patient, and mandibular transection with radial forearm flap reconstruction in 1 patient. There was no significant difference in the frequency of postoperative complication between these two groups. The HNEC group had a significantly shorter recurrence-free survival than the EC group (P = .046). Conclusion: Head and neck surgery with thoracoscopic esophagectomy can be safely performed concurrently with local control. The risk of recurrence is higher in ESCC patients with HNC; therefore, it is important to move on to adjuvant therapy without delay.

Positive predictive value of the clinical diagnosis of T1a-epithelial/lamina propria esophageal cancer depends on lesion size

OBJECTIVES

Endoscopic resection (ER) is a minimally invasive treatment for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, stricture may develop after ER for widespread lesions. Application of ER is justified if these cancers are pathological T1a-epithelial/lamina propria (pEP/LPM) cancers that can be cured by ER. We conducted a study to clarify the association between pathological invasion depth and lesion size or circumference in clinical (c) EP/LPM cancers.

METHODS

From our database, we identified patients diagnosed with cEP/LPM ESCC via endoscopic examination who underwent endoscopic or surgical tumor resection. The accuracy of the cEP/LPM ESCC diagnosis was determined by histologically diagnosing cancer invasion depth as a reference standard.

RESULTS

Between January 2015 and December 2019, 1271 cancer patients were diagnosed with cEP/LPM ESCC, of which 1195 (94.0%) were correctly diagnosed with pEP/LPM cancer. The positive predictive value (PPV) classified according to lesion sizes of ≤25, 26-49, and ≥50 mm was 95.8% (981/1024 lesions), 89.7% (191/213 lesions), and 67.6% (23/34 lesions), respectively. PPV according to the circumferential extent of <3/4, ≥3/4, and <1, and whole was 94.6% (1164/1230 lesions), 75.0% (24/32 lesions), and 77.8% (7/9 lesions), respectively. In multivariate analysis, the PPV of cEP/LPM ESCC was significantly associated with lesion size (P < 0.001) and male sex.

CONCLUSIONS

Between January 2015 and December 2019, 1271 cancer patients were diagnosed with cEP/LPM ESCC, of which 1195 (94.0%) were correctly diagnosed with pEP/LPM cancer. The PPV of cEP/LPM ESCC was related to lesion size. Treatment should be determined considering the high risk of cancer invasion into the muscularis mucosa or deeper in cEP/LPM cancers with a lesion size of ≥50 mm.

Long-term outcomes of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with invasion depth of pathological T1a-muscularis mucosae and T1b-submucosa by endoscopic resection followed by appropriate additional treatment

OBJECTIVES

Endoscopic resection (ER) is indicated for a wide range of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs). We examined the long-term outcomes in patients with pathological (p) invasion of ESCC into the T1a-muscularis mucosae (MM) and T1b-submucosa (SM) after ER, for which data on prognosis are limited.

METHODS

Of the 1217 patients with superficial ESCC who underwent ER, 225 patients with a pathological diagnosis of ESCC invasion into the MM, minute submucosal invasion ≤200 µm (SM1), or massive submucosal invasion (SM2) were included. In patients with lymphovascular invasion, droplet infiltration, or SM2 invasion, additional treatments, including chemoradiation (CRT) or esophagectomy with two- to three-field lymph node dissection, were recommended. The median observation period was 66 months (interquartile range 48-91 months).

RESULTS

In total, there were 151, 28, and 46 pT1a-MM, pT1b-SM1, and pT1b-SM2 cases, respectively. Metastatic recurrence was observed in 1.3%, 10.7%, and 6.5% patients with pT1a-MM, pT1b-SM1, and pT1b-SM2 ESCCs, respectively. Of the eight patients with metastatic recurrence, six were successfully treated, and two died of ESCC. The 5-year overall survival rates were 84.1%, 71.4%, and 67.4%, the 5-year relapse-free survival rates were 82.8%, 64.3%, and 65.2%, and the 5-year disease-specific survival rates were 100%, 96.4%, and 99.1% in patients with pT1a-MM, pT1b-SM1, and pT1b-SM2 ESCCs, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that additional CRT and esophagectomy, and T1b-SM2 were positively and negatively associated with overall survival, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic resection preceding appropriate additional treatments resulted in favorable outcomes. Many cases of metastatic recurrence in this cohort could be successfully treated.

Is Prophylactic Cervical Drainage Effective in Patients Undergoing McKeown Esophagectomy Reconstructed Through the Retrosternal Route with Two-Field Lymphadenectomy?

BACKGROUND

McKeown esophagectomy with two-field lymphadenectomy is the treatment of choice for oncologic esophagectomy. A cervical drain is placed in cases after modern two-field lymph node dissection (M2FD) to provide information on anastomotic leakage. However, the necessity of prophylactic cervical drainage during surgery remains unknown. This study aimed to clarify the clinical significance of cervical drainage in patients who underwent McKeown esophagectomy with M2FD.

METHODS

A total of 293 patients underwent McKeown surgery with two-field lymphadenectomy at our institute between January 2013 and December 2019. We compared the day of drain removal, amount of drainage volume, and the appearance of drainage fluid between patients with and without anastomotic leakage.

RESULTS

McKeown esophagectomy reconstructed through the retrosternal route is 203 patients (69.3%) of all. Nineteen patients (6.5%) experienced anastomotic leakage. The amount of cervical drain discharge was comparable between patients with and without anastomotic leakage. In addition, no purulent or salivary discharge was observed in patients with anastomotic leakage. There was no difference in the median day of drain removal between the groups. The initial clinical findings for the diagnosis of anastomotic leakage were surgical site infection in 10 (52.6%), fever in 5 (26.3%), prolonged inflammation in a blood test in 3 (15.8%), and bloody discharge from the chest tube in 1 (5.3%). There was no mortality due to any cause.

CONCLUSION

A prophylactic cervical drain may not be mandatory in patients with esophageal cancer undergoing McKeown esophagectomy reconstructed through the retrosternal route with two-field lymphadenectomy.

C-reactive protein to prealbumin ratio: a useful inflammatory and nutritional index for predicting prognosis after curative resection in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients

PURPOSE

Although C-reactive protein to prealbumin ratio (CPR) can predict the outcomes of several types of cancer surgeries, little is known about the implication of CPR in patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS

Between 2009 and 2018, 682 consecutive ESCC patients who underwent curative esophagectomy were enrolled. The clinicopathological factors and prognoses were compared between the groups stratified by preoperative CPR levels. A logistic regression model was used to determine the risk factors of postoperative pneumonia. Survival curves were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to elucidate prognostic factors.

RESULTS

There were more elderly patients, more males, and more advanced clinical T and N categories in the high CPR group than in the low CPR group. Also, the incidence of postoperative pneumonia was significantly higher in the high CPR group than in the low CPR group (32.4% vs. 20.3%, p < 0.01). In multivariate analyses, high CPR was one of the independent predictive factors for postoperative pneumonia (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.15-2.54; p < 0.03). Moreover, high CPR was an independent prognostic factor for overall, cancer-specific, and recurrence-free survivals (HR 1.62; 95% CI 1.18-2.23; p < 0.01, HR 1.57; 95% CI 1.08-2.32; p = 0.02, HR 1.42; 95% CI 1.06-1.90; p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative CPR was found to be a useful inflammatory and nutritional indicator for predicting the occurrence of pneumonia and prognosis in patients with ESCC undergoing esophagectomy.

The Influence of Socioeconomic Status on Esophageal Cancer in Taiwan: A Population-Based Study

Background: Esophageal cancer has extreme worldwide demographic and histologic variations in occurrence; thus, understanding the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer must be region- or country-based. We examined the incidence and tumor stage at diagnosis of esophageal cancer in relation to patients’ socioeconomic status (SES) in Taiwan. Method: This retrospective cohort study used data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database and Taiwan Cancer Registry collected between January 2008 and December 2014. The records of 40- to 79-year-old patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer were retrieved. The distribution of the crude incidence rates of esophageal cancer by occupation and income variables was studied retrospectively. Cox proportional hazard model was used to adjust for potential confounders and compare the esophageal cancer incidence among four independent variables: age, gender, occupation, and income. Logistic regression analysis was applied to find the power of the independent variables on the odds ratio of late-stage presentation. Results: The analysis included 7763 subjects. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) was the predominant histological type (96.6%) and 94.4% of patients were male. The peak affected age for ESCC was 50 to 59 years, whereas the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma increased progressively with age. The risk of ESCC was significantly unfavorable for the most disadvantaged group, either in occupation or income, while in EAC, risk was unrelated to either factor. The stage of cancer at diagnosis was lower in the highest income groups than in the other two groups. Conclusion: Significant SES disparities in esophageal cancer incidence, based on occupation and income, are present in Taiwan. Low SES populations have a higher percentage of late-stage diagnosis. Resolution of the increasing socioeconomic disparities and narrowing the gaps in health inequities in Taiwan are needed.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection combined with adjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage neuroendocrine carcinoma of the esophagus: A case report

BACKGROUND

Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the esophagus is rare and highly aggressive, and lacks biological features. Currently, there are no established standard treatments for this cancer. In this report, we describe a patient with large-cell NEC of the esophagus who was successfully treated using endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) combined with adjuvant chemotherapy.

CASE SUMMARY

A 55-year-old woman presented with intermittent mild dysphagia for 2 mo. Gastroscopy revealed a disc-shaped protruding lesion about 18 mm × 18 mm in size on the upper esophagus. Endoscopic ultrasonography demonstrated that the bulged lesion originated from the muscularis mucosa. We assessed en bloc resections using ESD for therapeutic diagnosis to devise a safe and appropriate treatment. Histopathological examination revealed a poorly differentiated neoplasm comprising of large cells with marked nuclear atypia and multifocal necrosis. In addition, the specimens had a negative horizontal margin and vertical margins. Depth of invasion was classified as submucosa 2 (SM2) without lymphovascular invasion. These histopathological results were consistent with a diagnosis of esophageal NEC, large cell type. Adjuvant therapy has been considered for ESD patients with SM2/SM3 lesions and patients with poorly differentiated lesions. After comprehensive consideration, we initiated combination treatment, i.e., ESD plus adjuvant chemotherapy. The patient remained disease-free at the 2-year follow-up.

CONCLUSION

En bloc resection approach using ESD may play a vital role as a diagnostic and therapeutic modality for esophageal NEC.

Clinical outcomes of definitive radiotherapy for patients with cT1aN0M0 esophageal cancer unsuitable for endoscopic resection and surgery

Background

Studies on the clinical outcomes of radiotherapy for clinical (c)T1aN0M0 (UICC-TNM Classification, Eighth Edition) esophageal cancer (EC) are limited. Therefore, this retrospective study aimed to clarify the clinical outcomes of definitive radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for cT1aN0M0 EC unsuitable for endoscopic resection and surgery.

Methods

Patients with cT1aN0M0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent definitive RT or CRT between January 2009 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The initial response, toxicities, survival rates, recurrence patterns, and salvage treatments of the patients were evaluated. Initial response was measured using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors guideline. Toxicity was assessed and documented following the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0. Survival rates from the date of initiation of treatment were measured using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

Twenty patients treated with definitive RT or CRT were included in the study. The median follow-up duration was 55 months (range, 13-131 months). All patients achieved complete response to the initial treatment. Grade 3 acute toxicities observed esophagitis (10%), pneumonitis (5%), and leukopenia (5%). Late toxicities higher than grade 3 were not observed. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall and disease-specific survival rates were 100% and 100%, 83% and 100%, and 67% and 100%, respectively. No treatment-related deaths occurred. Among the 20 patients, 6 showed local recurrence and 2 showed metachronous recurrence. Seven patients underwent salvage endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and one underwent argon plasma coagulation treatment. After the endoscopic treatment, no recurrences were observed.

Conclusions

Definitive RT or CRT was considered an alternative initial treatment for patients with cT1aN0M0 EC who were unsuitable for endoscopic resection and surgery.

Identification of Preoperative Fat-Free Mass Index for the Prognosis of Curatively Resected Esophageal Cancer

BACKGROUND

The progressive, systemic depletion of muscle mass is a poor prognostic factor for various types of cancers. However, the assessment of body composition for patients with esophagectomy remains unclear. Therefore, we evaluated the significance of the fat-free mass index (FFMI) and estimated the appropriate cutoff value.

METHODS

We compiled clinicopathological characteristics of patients who underwent curative operation for esophageal cancer between October 2013 and March 2018 at Toranomon Hospital and reviewed them until December 2020. We analyzed the short- and long-term outcomes, compared to conventional nutritional factors, and calculated the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

RESULTS

A total of 200 patients were eligible for inclusion. FFMI was ineffective in predicting postoperative complications, with no correlation with other nutritional biomarkers. Preoperative low FFMI led to poor overall survival (OS), and the lower cutoff values based on the time-dependent ROC analysis were 14.4 and 16.8 kg/m2 in women and men, respectively. Multivariate analysis for OS revealed that low FFMI (p = 0.010, HR 2.437, 95% CI 1.234-4.815) and clinical stage (p = 0.010, HR 4.781, 95% CI 1.447-15.796) were independent prognostic factors. The 3-year survival rates were 68.9% in low FFMI and 88.6% in normal FFMI.

CONCLUSIONS

The low FFMI was not predictive of postoperative complications but an independent prognostic factor in esophageal cancer with curative resection, having no correlation with other biomarkers. Our cutoff FFMI values could be useful in selecting the target for muscle improvement programs.

Endoscopic resection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Current indications and treatment outcomes

Endoscopic resection (ER) is an alternate minimally invasive treatment for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SESCC). We aimed to review the clinical indications and treatment outcomes of ER for SESCC. Endoscopic mucosal resection is relatively easy and efficient for SESCC ≤ 15 mm. In contrast, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is recommended to achieve en bloc resection for lesions >15 mm, in view of the accurate pathological evaluation. The Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society guidelines recommend ER for non-circumferential cT1a-EP/LPM (epithelium/lamina propria mucosae), cT1a-MM/T1b-SM1 (muscularis mucosa/superficial submucosa ≤ 200μm) SESCC, and whole-circumferential T1a-EP/LPM SESCC ≤ 50 mm (upon implementing preventive measures for stenosis), considering the risk-benefit balance of ER. It defines pT1a-EP/LPM without lymphovascular invasion as a curative endoscopic resection. The guidelines recommend additional esophagectomy or chemoradiotherapy for pT1b SESCC or any SESCC, with lymphovascular invasion. However, there is no recommendation for or against the administration of additional treatments for pT1a-MM without lymphovascular invasion, owing to limited evidence. Researchers have reported on high en bloc and R0 resection rates of ESD, and a randomized controlled trial demonstrated that clip-line traction-assisted ESD could significantly reduce the ESD procedural time. Moreover, steroid treatment has been developed to prevent post-ESD esophageal strictures. There have been reports on favorable long-term outcomes of ESD. However, most of them are retrospective studies. Further robust data in prospective trials are warranted to achieve a definitive evidence of ESD, which will be beneficial to patients with SESCC.

Implementation of artificial intelligence in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) using deep learning has significantly expanded in the field of esophagogastric endoscopy. Recent studies have shown promising results in detecting and differentiating early gastric cancer using AI tools built using white light, magnified, or image-enhanced endoscopic images. Some studies have reported the use of AI tools to predict the depth of early gastric cancer based on endoscopic images. Similarly, studies based on using AI for detecting early esophageal cancer have also been reported, with an accuracy comparable to that of endoscopy specialists. Moreover, an AI system, developed to diagnose pharyngeal cancer, has shown promising performance with high sensitivity. These reports suggest that, if introduced for regular use in clinical settings, AI systems can significantly reduce the burden on physicians. This review summarizes the current status of AI applications in the upper gastrointestinal tract and presents directions for clinical practice implementation and future research.

Clinical Benefits of Routine Feeding Jejunostomy Tube Placement in Patients Undergoing Esophagectomy

BACKGROUND

Routine placement of a feeding jejunostomy tube (FJT) following esophagectomy remains controversial due to the risk of complications including small bowel obstruction (SBO). This study aimed to evaluate FJT placement following esophagectomy.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included consecutive 229 patients undergoing thoracoscopic esophagectomy between January 2010 and June 2020. Short-term outcomes, postoperative nutritional status, incidence of SBO, and long-term outcomes were compared between patients according to FJT placement.

RESULTS

The total operative duration was significantly longer in the FJT group compared to the no FJT group (P < 0.0001); however, no differences in overall or severe postoperative morbidity were observed. Body weight loss at discharge was significantly attenuated in patients with FJT (5% vs 7%, P = 0.001). Serum cholinesterase levels were significantly higher in patients with FJT (P = 0.002), while no difference was observed in serum albumin levels. At 6-month follow-up, no statistically significant differences were observed in serological markers or percentage body weight. The incidence of SBO was significantly higher in the FJT group (P = 0.006). The 5-year incidence of SBO was 12%. Patients in the FJT group had higher progression-free and overall survival compared to patients in the no FJT group (P = 0.041 and P = 0.033, respectively). A similar trend toward better survival in the FJT group was observed after propensity score matching.

CONCLUSIONS

Routine placement of FJT significantly improves postoperative nutritional status and may contribute to improved long-term survival but is associated with increased long-term risk of SBO.

The safety and feasibility of endoscopic submucosal dissection using a flexible three-dimensional endoscope for early gastric cancer and superficial esophageal cancer: A prospective observational study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is performed as one of standard treatments for patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) and superficial esophageal squamous cancer (SESCC). A prototype of a flexible endoscope with a 3-D system has been recently developed. This study aimed to investigate the safety and feasibility of ESD using a 3-D flexible endoscope (3-D ESD) for EGC and SESCC.

METHODS

This single-center, prospective, observational study enrolled patients who underwent planned 3-D ESD. The clinical outcomes, including the incidence of adverse events and treatment results, were analyzed. Visibility and manipulation during 3-D ESD were evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS). We also evaluated the effect of the 3-D system on the endoscopist using VAS and the critical flicker fusion frequency (CFFF).

RESULTS

We analyzed 47 EGC and 20 SESCC cases. There are no bleeding cases that required transfusion and perforation during 3-D ESD in both EGC and SESCC patients. However, the incidence of delayed bleeding and delayed perforation was 1.5% (one case) each. The mean VAS scores for recognizing the submucosal layer during the submucosal dissection, visual perception of blood vessel, and depth perception were 72.7 ± 22.2, 74.7 ± 21.8, and 78.2 ± 19.9, respectively. In contrast, the mean VAS score for manipulation was 25.4 ± 19.7. Among endoscopists, there was no significant difference in the VAS of eyestrain and headache before and after ESD, and there was no significant difference in the CFFF.

CONCLUSION

The safety and feasibility of 3-D ESD for EGC and SESCC are acceptable in both patients and endoscopists.

Expression status of p53 and organic cation transporter 1 is correlated with poor response to preoperative chemotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a highly malignant neoplasm. DNA-damaging drugs, such as cisplatin (CDDP) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), are most frequently used in preoperative chemotherapy for ESCC. However, the response to preoperative chemotherapy varies among patients. p53, encoded by TP53, participates in apoptotic pathways following chemotherapy with DNA-damaging drugs, and mutation of TP53 contributes to chemoresistance. Organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1) participates in the uptake of CDDP, and its reduced expression is associated with CDDP resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive impact of the expression status of p53 and OCT1 in response to preoperative chemotherapy in ESCC.

METHODS

We retrospectively assessed 66 ESCC patients who received preoperative chemotherapy with CDDP/5-FU (CF) or docetaxel/CDDP/5-FU (DCF). p53 and OCT1 expression in pretreatment biopsy specimens was immunohistochemically determined and correlated with histological response to preoperative chemotherapy.

RESULTS

p53 with wild-type (p53WT-ex) and mutant-type (p53MT-ex) expression patterns was identified in 40.9% and 59.1% of patients, respectively. High expression of OCT1 (OCT1High) was detected in 45.5%, and the remaining 54.5% showed low expression (OCT1Low). In a univariate analysis of the entire cohort, p53MT-ex was significantly correlated with poor response (P = 0.026), whereas OCT1Low showed marginal significance (P = 0.091). In a combined analysis, tumors with either p53MT-ex or OCT1Low showed a significant correlation with poor response compared with tumors with both p53WT-ex and OCT1High (P < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of combined p53/OCT1 were 93.9%, 47.1%, and 81.8%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified p53 (P = 0.017), OCT1 (P = 0.032), and combined p53/OCT1 (P < 0.001) as independent predictors of histological response. When samples were stratified according to chemotherapy regimen in the univariate analysis, combined p53/OCT1 was the only significant factor for poor response in the CF (P = 0.011) and DCF (P = 0.021) groups, whereas p53 showed no statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that either p53MT-ex or OCT1Low expression in pretreatment biopsy specimens may be a potential predictor of poor response to preoperative chemotherapy with the CF-based regimens in ESCC, although the specificity needs to be improved.

Advances in the curative management of oesophageal cancer

The incidence of oesophageal cancer, in particular adenocarcinoma, has markedly increased over the last four decades with adenocarcinoma becoming the dominant subtype in the West, and mortality rates are high. Nevertheless, overall survival of patients with oesophageal cancer has doubled in the past 20 years, with earlier diagnosis and improved treatments benefiting those patients who can be treated with curative intent. Advances in endotherapy, surgical approaches, and multimodal and other combination therapies have been reported. New vistas have emerged in targeted therapies and immunotherapy, informed by new knowledge in genomics and molecular biology, which present opportunities for personalised cancer therapy and novel clinical trials. This review focuses exclusively on the curative intent treatment pathway, and highlights emerging advances.