Randomized trial of preoperative chemoradiation versus surgery alone in patients with locoregional esophageal carcinoma

AKT expression is associated with degree of pathologic response in adenocarcinoma of the esophagus treated with neoadjuvant therapy

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NCRT) has become standard in the treatment of locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) with survival correlated to degree of pathologic response. The phosphatidyl inositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mTOR pathway plays an important role in tumorgenesis and resistance. We sought to elucidate the role of this pathway in patients with EAC who received NCRT.

METHODS

After IRB approval, a prospective trial was initiated in which patients with EAC underwent endoscopic biopsies of normal and tumor tissue prior to instituting NCRT. Patients then proceeded to esophagectomy. The pre-treatment tissues underwent gene expression profiling. SAM method was used to analyze expression of AKT within normal and tumor tissue. Expression was then correlated to degree of pathologic response.

RESULTS

One-hundred patients were consented for the study, of which 67 met final eligibility. Nineteen patient's tumors ultimately underwent gene expression profiling via microarray. The differential expression of all AKT isoforms in tumor tissue was markedly overexpressed compared to normal tissue (P=6×10(-5)). There were 3 patients designated as pNR, 6 as pPR, and 10 as pCR. Partial and non-responders had higher expressions of AKT compared to pCR with the non-responders consistently illustrated the highest expression of AKT (P=0.02). There was a significant correlation between individual isoforms of AKT-1, AKT-2, and AKT-3 and degree of pathologic response (P=0.002, 0.04, and 0.04 respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

AKT is overexpressed in patients with AC of the esophagus. Moreover, pathologic response to NCRT may be correlated with degree of AKT expression. Additional data is needed to clarify this relationship to potentially add targeted therapies to the neoadjuvant regimen.

Relationship between the Temporal Changes in Positron-Emission-Tomography-Imaging-Based Textural Features and Pathologic Response and Survival in Esophageal Cancer Patients

PURPOSE

Although change in standardized uptake value (SUV) measures and PET-based textural features during treatment have shown promise in tumor response prediction, it is unclear which quantitative measure is the most predictive. We compared the relationship between PET-based features and pathologic response and overall survival with the SUV measures in esophageal cancer.

METHODS

Fifty-four esophageal cancer patients received PET/CT scans before and after chemoradiotherapy. Of these, 45 patients underwent surgery and were classified into complete, partial, and non-responders to the preoperative chemoradiation. SUVmax and SUVmean, two cooccurrence matrix (Entropy and Homogeneity), two run-length matrix (RLM) (high-gray-run emphasis and Short-run high-gray-run emphasis), and two size-zone matrix (high-gray-zone emphasis and short-zone high-gray emphasis) textures were computed. The relationship between the relative difference of each measure at different treatment time points and the pathologic response and overall survival was assessed using the area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve (AUC) and Kaplan-Meier statistics, respectively.

RESULTS

All Textures, except Homogeneity, were better related to pathologic response than SUVmax and SUVmean. Entropy was found to significantly distinguish non-responders from the complete (AUC = 0.79, p = 1.7 × 10(-4)) and partial (AUC = 0.71, p = 0.01) responders. Non-responders can also be significantly differentiated from partial and complete responders by the change in the run-length and size-zone matrix textures (AUC = 0.71-0.76, p ≤ 0.02). Homogeneity, SUVmax, and SUVmean failed to differentiate between any of the responders (AUC = 0.50-0.57, p ≥ 0.46). However, none of the measures were found to significantly distinguish between complete and partial responders with AUC <0.60 (p = 0.37). Median Entropy and RLM textures significantly discriminated patients with good and poor survival (log-rank p < 0.02), while all other textures and survival were poorly related (log-rank p > 0.25).

CONCLUSION

For the patients studied, temporal changes in Entropy and all RLM were better correlated with pathological response and survival than the SUV measures. The hypothesis that these metrics can be used as clinical predictors of better patient outcomes will be tested in a larger patient dataset in the future.

Comparison of locoregional versus extended locoregional radiation volumes for patients with nonmetastatic gastro-esophageal junction carcinomas

INTRODUCTION

To delineate an optimal clinical target volume (CTV) for gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancers by comparing locoregional versus extended locoregional radiation (RT) volumes.

MATERIALS

This retrospective analysis examined 222 patients (111 matched pairs treated with locoregional versus extended locoregional RT) with nonmetastatic GEJ carcinomas treated with concurrent chemoradiation ± surgery. The CTV for locoregional volumes was defined as gross tumor volume + elective coverage of first-echelon nodes and sometimes the celiac axis. The CTV for extended locoregional volumes was defined as gross tumor volume + elective coverage of celiac and splenic (± porta) nodes. Variables used for matching included sex, stage, performance status, histology, receipt of induction chemotherapy, type of concurrent chemotherapy, RT modality, receipt of surgery, type of surgery, and Siewert classification. Regression models stratified by matched pairs were fit to estimate effect of RT volume on clinical endpoints.

RESULTS

Adjusting p values for multiple testing, patients treated with extended locoregional versus locoregional RT had increased odds of grade 2+ acute chemoradiation-associated gastrointestinal toxicity (odds ratio: 2.92, adj. p = 0.0447). However, differing RT volumes were not significantly associated with postoperative complication rates, pathologic T-stage, frequency of positive perigastric/regional nodes on surgical specimen, distant-metastases progression-free survival, locoregional progression-free survival, or overall survival (adj. p > 0.05). Of the patients who did (n = 124) and did not (n = 72) receive elective celiac RT, two (1.6%) and two patients (2.8%), respectively, relapsed in the celiac nodes. No patients failed in the splenic or porta nodes.

CONCLUSIONS

Most GEJ cancers can be safely treated without elective inclusion of splenic/porta nodes.

Impact of Treatment Modalities on Survival of Patients With Locoregional Esophageal Squamous-Cell Carcinoma in Taiwan

The optimal treatment modality for locoregional esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC) is still undetermined. This study investigated the treatment modalities affecting survival of patients with ESCC in Taiwan.Data on 6202 patients who underwent treatment for locoregional esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma during 2008 to 2012 in Taiwan were collected from the Taiwan Cancer Registry. Patients were stratified by clinical stage. The major treatment approaches included definitive chemoradiotherapy, preoperative chemoradiation followed by esophagectomy, esophagectomy followed by adjuvant therapy, and esophagectomy alone. The impact of different treatment modalities on overall survival was analyzed.The majority of patients had stage III disease (n = 4091; 65.96%), followed by stage II (n = 1582, 25.51%) and stage I cancer (n = 529, 8.53%). The 3-year overall survival rates were 60.65% for patients with stage I disease, 36.21% for those with stage II cancer, and 21.39% for patients with stage III carcinoma. Surgery alone was associated with significantly better overall survival than the other treatment modalities for patients with stage I disease (P = 0.029) and was associated with significantly worse overall survival for patients with stage III cancer (P < 0.001). There was no survival risk difference among the different treatment methods for patients with clinical stage II disease.Multimodality treatment is recommended for patients with stage II-III esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma. Patients with clinical stage I disease can be treated with esophagectomy without preoperative therapy.

Cancer survivorship: long-term side-effects of anticancer treatments of gastrointestinal cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Surveillance of patients with a history of cancer is a frequent practice in oncology. However, it is often aimed at the early diagnosis of relapse and tends to underestimate the evaluation and care of factors impairing quality of life (QoL). Among these, long-term toxicities of anticancer treatments are one of the major threats to a complete physical and psychosocial recovery. We aimed to review the relevant literature on long-term side-effects of treatment in gastrointestinal cancers.

RECENT FINDINGS

We focused on esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, liver and colorectal cancers. A significant fraction of patients treated for these cancers suffer with some form of late toxicity from surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Prompt evaluation and management is of the utmost importance in reducing the impact of these symptoms on QoL.

SUMMARY

The knowledge of the reviewed data should encourage a multidisciplinary approach to surveillance and convince clinicians of the comprehensive role of survivorship care.

Preoperative Chemoradiation Therapy Versus Chemotherapy in Patients Undergoing Modified En Bloc Esophagectomy for Locally Advanced Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: Is Radiotherapy Beneficial?

BACKGROUND

Preoperative chemotherapy (ChT) or chemoradiation (ChRT) are associated with improved outcomes compared with up-front surgical resection in patients with locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Two randomized controlled trials comparing these therapies included nonradical resection and failed to reach significance. We hypothesized that additional regional radiotherapy does not benefit patients undergoing en bloc resection.

METHODS

We performed a multiinstitutional study using three prospectively entered databases from high-volume esophageal centers. Inclusion criteria were patients with EAC treated with preoperative ChT or ChRT, followed by modified en bloc esophagectomy. To minimize issues of stage migration and heterogeneity, we limited the study to patients with cT3 N1 M0 EAC. Survival was assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method, and step-wise multivariable analyses were used to explore variables independently associated with survival outcomes. Radical resections included two- and three-field lymphadenectomies, dependent solely on surgeon/institutional preference.

RESULTS

We identified 214 patients with cT3 N1 disease, of which 114 underwent preoperative ChT vs 100 who underwent ChRT. Median survival was 31.2 months (95% confidence interval, 20.7 to 41.7 months) for the ChT group vs 39.2 months (95% confidence interval, 27.3 to 51.0 months) for the ChRT group (p = 0.665). Mortality at 90 days was 5.3% for ChT vs 4% for ChRT (p = 0.754). No differences were noted between patterns of locoregional and distant recurrence between both groups. There were no significant differences in major postoperative morbidity between both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Given a modified en bloc esophagectomy, type of preoperative therapy was not a significant determinant of overall survival or disease-free survival. Although preoperative ChRT did not add perioperative risk, it also did not prolong survival. The role of preoperative radiotherapy in the setting of a planned radical resection should be further evaluated.

Combined Modality Therapy for Thoracic and head and Neck Cancers: A Review of Updated Literature Based on a Consensus Meeting

Purpose

Combined modality therapy is a mainstay option for thoracic malignancies and head and neck cancers. The integration of different strategies is based on the multidisciplinary approach of modern clinical oncology. Radiation oncologists have to be educated, trained, and updated to provide state-of-the-art care to cancer patients and thus educational meetings are crucial.

Methods

The Italian Association of Radiation Oncology Young Members Working Group (AIRO Giovani) organized its 8th national meeting, focused on combination therapy in lung, esophageal, and head and neck cancer (with a specific focus on larynx-preservation strategies for larynx/hypopharynx tumors), involving young professionals working in Italy. The meeting was addressed to young radiation oncologists, presenting state-of-the-art knowledge, based on the latest evidence in this field. We performed a review of the current literature based on the highlights of the Congress.

Results

The multimodality approach of head and neck and thoracic malignancies includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, but also has to take into account new information and data coming from basic and translational research and including molecular biology, genetics, and immunology. All these aspects are crucial for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer and esophageal, esophagogastric junction, and larynx/hypopharynx malignancies. The integration of different treatments in the clinical decision-making process to combine therapies is crucial.

Conclusions

Combination therapy has proved to be a consolidated approach in these specific oncologic settings, highlighting the importance of multimodality management in modern clinical oncology. Dedicated meetings on specific topics are helpful to improve knowledge and skills of young professionals in radiation oncology.

An Unusual Course of Metastatic Gastroesophageal Cancer

We are reporting on a case of a 41-year-old woman who presented with metastatic gastroesophageal junction cancer and who achieved prolonged survival with a multimodal treatment approach. After initially experiencing robust response to chemotherapy, she was treated for distant recurrence with palliative radiation to the gastrohepatic and supraclavicular lymph nodes and subsequently, given her unusual near-complete response, with reirradiation to the abdomen with curative intent for residual disease. The case presented is unique due to the patient's atypical treatment course, including technically difficult reirradiation to the abdomen, and the resulting prolonged survival despite metastatic presentation.

Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and American College of Radiology Imaging Network Randomized Phase 2 Trial of Neoadjuvant Preoperative Paclitaxel/Cisplatin/Radiation Therapy (RT) or Irinotecan/Cisplatin/RT in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: Long-Term Outcome and Implications for Trial Design

PURPOSE

Toxicity, pathologic complete response, and long-term outcomes are reported for the neoadjuvant therapies assessed in a randomized phase 2 Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and American College of Radiology Imaging Network trial for operable esophageal adenocarcinoma, staged as II-IVa by endoscopy/ultrasonography (EUS).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A total of 86 eligible patients began treatment. For arm A, preoperative chemotherapy was cisplatin, 30 mg/m(2), and irinotecan, 50 mg/m(2), on day 1, 8, 22, 29 during 45 Gy radiation therapy (RT), 1.8 Gy per day over 5 weeks. Adjuvant therapy was cisplatin, 30 mg/m(2), and irinotecan, 65 mg/m(2) day 1, 8 every 21 days for 3 cycles. Arm B therapy was cisplatin, 30 mg/m(2), and paclitaxel, 50 mg/m(2), day 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 with RT, followed by adjuvant cisplatin, 75 mg/m(2), and paclitaxel, 175 mg/m(2), day 1 every 21 days for 3 cycles. Stratification included EUS stage and performance status.

RESULTS

In arm A, median overall survival was 35 months, and 5-, 6-, and 7-year survival rates were 46%, 39%, and 35%, respectively, whereas for arm B, they were 21 months and 27%, 27%, and 23%, respectively. Median progression- or recurrence-free survival (PFS) was 39.8 months with a 3-year PFS of 50% for arm A and 12.4 months (P=.046) with 3-year PFS of 28% for arm B. Eighty percent of the observed incidents of progression occurred within 19 months. Survival did not differ significantly by EUS and performance status strata.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term survival was similar for both arms and did not appear superior to results achieved with other standard regimens.

A clinical trial of neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by resection for esophageal carcinoma

Background:

Esophageal carcinoma is a common malignancy in the North East of Iran. Combined modality treatments have been adopted to improve survival in patients with esophageal carcinoma. In this trial, we evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of a preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy protocol in the patients with locally advanced esophageal carcinoma.

Materials and Methods:

Between 2006 and 2011, eligible patients with locally advanced esophageal carcinoma underwent concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy and 3-4 weeks later, esophagectomy. Pathologic response, overall survival rate, toxicity, and feasibility were evaluated.

Results:

One hundred ninety-seven patients with a median age of 59 (range: 27-70) entered the protocol. One hundred ninety-four cases (98.5%) had esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Grades 3-4 of toxicity in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradotherapy were as follows: Neutropenia in 21% and esophagitis in 2.5% of cases. There were 11 (5.6%) early death probably due to the treatment-related toxicities. One hundred twenty-seven patients underwent surgery with postsurgical mortality of 11%. In these cases, the complete pathological response was shown in 38 cases (29.9%) with a 5-year overall survival rates of 48.2% and median overall survival of 44 months (95% confidence interval, 24.46-63.54).

Conclusion:

The pathological response rate and the overall survival rate are promising in patients who completed the protocol as receiving at least one cycle of chemotherapy. However, the treatment toxicities were relatively high.

Esophagectomy Timing After Neoadjuvant Therapy for Distal Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The time elapsed between completion of neoadjuvant therapy and esophagectomy may influence response rate and possibly allow for avoidance of surgical intervention in selected cases ("wait and see" approach). However, a very long postradiation interval has been associated with worsened surgical outcomes in esophageal carcinoma. Therefore we analyzed outcomes of patients with invasive distal esophageal adenocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation and esophagectomy based on the time elapsed between completion of neoadjuvant chemoradiation and resection.

METHODS

Patients with invasive distal esophageal carcinoma diagnosed between 2003 and 2011 and treated by neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by esophagectomy within 26 weeks were identified in the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB). Primary outcome measures were 30- and 90-day postsurgical mortality and overall survival.

RESULTS

In all, 4,284 patients aged 60.3 ± 9.4 years were analyzed (mean ± standard deviation). The interval after radiation therapy until esophagectomy was 7.8 ± 3.4 weeks (median, 7.1 weeks). The postradiation interval was 8 weeks or more in 35% of patients. Thirty-day mortality was 2.9% (n = 127), and 90-day mortality was 7.8% (n = 336). A postradiation interval of 9 weeks or more was associated with increased perioperative mortality odds both at the 30-day (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.160; 95% confidence interval, 1.099-4.242; p = 0.025) and 90-day follow-up (adjusted OR, 1.912; 95% confidence interval, 1.290-2.835; p < 0.001). Similarly, a postradiation interval of 9 weeks or more was associated with an increased mortality risk (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.194; 95% confidence interval, 1.032-1.380; p = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative mortality and overall survival are significantly associated with the time interval between neoadjuvant chemoradiation and esophagectomy. A "wait and see" approach after neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal adenocarcinoma may not be safe. Further studies based on more detailed data are needed.

Patterns and predictors of failure following tri-modality therapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

Although tri-modality therapy is an acceptable standard of care in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer, data regarding patterns of failure is lacking. We report bi-institutional patterns of failure experience treating patients using tri-modality therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent chemoradiation followed by esophagectomy between 2006 and 2011 at two NCI-designated cancer centers. First failure sites were categorized as local, regional nodal, or distant. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test, non-parametric Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and multiple logistic regression. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated for relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival.

RESULTS

A total of 132 patients met the inclusion criteria with a median age of 62 (range 36-80) and median follow-up of 28 months (range 4-128). There were a total of six (4.5%) local, 13 (10%) regional nodal, and 32 (23.5%) distant failures. Local failure was correlated with fewer lymph nodes (LN) assessed (p = 0.01) and close/positive margins (p < 0.01). Regional nodal failure was correlated with fewer LN assessed (p < 0.01) and larger pretreatment tumor size (p = 0.04). Patients with ≤13 LN evaluated had an inferior locoregional RFS versus patients with >13 LN evaluated (p = 0.003). Distant recurrence was correlated with higher pathologic nodal stage (p < 0.001), ulceration (p = 0.017), perineural invasion (p = 0.029), residual disease (p = 0.004), and higher post-treatment PET SUV max (p = 0.049). Patients with a pathologic complete response (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.05-0.68) were less likely to experience distant recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Tumor and treatment factors may predict for failure in patients undergoing tri-modality therapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer. Further data is needed to identify patterns of failure in these patients.

Induction chemoradiation therapy prior to esophagectomy is associated with superior long-term survival for esophageal cancer

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of induction chemoradiation in the treatment of potentially resectable locally advanced (T2-3N0 and T1-3N+) esophageal cancer utilizing a large national database. The National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) was queried for all patients undergoing esophagectomy for clinical T2-3N0 and T1-3N+ esophageal cancer of the mid- or lower esophagus. Patients were stratified by the use of induction chemoradiation therapy versus surgery-first. Trends were assessed with the Cochran-Armitage test. Predictors of receiving induction therapy were evaluated with multivariable logistic regression. A propensity-matched analysis was conducted to compare outcomes between groups, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate long-term survival. Within the NCDB, 7921 patients were identified, of which 6103 (77.0%) were treated with chemoradiation prior to esophagectomy, while the remaining 1818 (23.0%) were managed with surgery-first. Use of induction therapy increased over time, with an absolute increase of 11.8% from 2003-2011 (P < 0.001). As revealed by the propensity model, induction therapy was associated with higher rates of negative margins and shorter hospital length of stay, but no differences in unplanned readmission and 30-day mortality rates. In unadjusted survival analysis, induction therapy was associated with better long-term survival compared to a strategy of surgery-first, with 5-year survival rates of 37.2% versus 28.6%, P < 0.001. Following propensity score matching analysis, the use of induction therapy maintained a significant survival advantage over surgery-first (5-year survival: 37.9% vs. 28.7%, P < 0.001). Treatment with induction chemoradiation therapy prior to surgical resection is associated with significant improvement in long-term survival, even after adjusting for confounders with a propensity model. Induction therapy should be considered in all medically appropriate patients with resectable cT2-3N0 and cT1-3N+ esophageal cancer, prior to esophagectomy.

Recent trends and predictors of multimodality treatment for oesophageal, oesophagogastric junction, and gastric cancer: A Dutch cohort-study

BACKGROUND

In recent years, evidence supporting multimodality treatment for oesophageal, oesophagogastric junction (OGJ), and gastric cancer has accumulated. This population-based cohort-study investigates trends and predictors of utilisation of multimodality treatment for oesophagogastric cancer in the Netherlands.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data were obtained from the Netherlands Cancer Registry regarding patients with oesophageal (n = 5450), OGJ (n = 2168) and gastric cancer (n = 6683) without distant metastases who had undergone R0 or R1 surgery diagnosed between 2000 and 2012. Follow-up was completed until February 2014. Preoperative/postoperative chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy combined with surgery were considered multimodality treatment. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyse the association of age, gender, socioeconomic status, clinical T and N classification, hospital type, comprehensive cancer centre network region, and year of diagnosis, with multimodality treatment receipt. Additional analyses were performed to explore differences in trends of utilisation of multimodality treatment between academic and non-academic hospitals.

RESULTS

Multimodality treatment utilisation for oesophageal, OGJ and gastric cancer increased significantly to 90%, 85% and 56% in 2012, respectively. In oesophageal and OGJ cancer patients, preoperative chemoradiotherapy was most frequently administered (85% and 47% in 2012, respectively), and in gastric cancer patients preoperative chemotherapy (47% in 2012). Lower age, higher clinical T and N classification, and diagnosis in more recent years were significantly associated with more frequent multimodality treatment receipt. The adoption of most types of multimodality treatment in academic hospitals preceded non-academic hospitals by a year.

CONCLUSION

In the Netherlands, the utilisation of multimodality treatment for oesophagogastric cancer has significantly increased during the past decade, especially in oesophageal and OGJ cancer. Multimodality treatment utilisation was especially dependent on patient and tumour characteristics and year of diagnosis, but multimodality treatment trends seem to be related to the publication of landmark studies, participation in nationally running clinical trials, and hospital type, preceding national guidelines.

18-fluorodeoxy-glucose positron emission computed tomography as predictive of response after chemoradiation in oesophageal cancer patients

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to evaluate if a baseline, an interim or a post-chemoradiation (CTRT) 18-fluorodeoxy-glucose positron emission computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) studies could provide information on pathologic response to CTRT and overall survival (OS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-one patients with histologically proven adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus, fit for trimodality therapy were prospectively enrolled. Most were men (93.5%), and had a stage III cancer (74.2%). Chemotherapy consisted of oxaliplatin/5-fluorouracil (45.2%) and taxane/5-fluorouracil (54.8%). All patients underwent a baseline, an interim (performed 12 ± 2 days after the onset of CTRT) and a post-CTRT 18F-FDG PET/CT study. The 18F-FDG PET/CT variables evaluated were at baseline, interim and post-CTRT studies maximum standardised uptake value (SUV max) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG). Clinical and 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters were correlated with pathologic complete response (pathCR) and OS.

RESULTS

Among the 31 patients studied, 61.3% achieved a clinical complete response (cCR) and 87.1% had surgery. The median OS was 35.1 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 19.9-NA). PathCR rate was 22.2%. There was only a marginal association between cCR and pathCR (p = 0.06). None of the other variables was predictive of pathCR. There was association between OS and baseline TLG (p = 0.03) at the optimal cutoff TLG value of 75.15. Additionally, TLG and ΔTLG post-CTRT were also associated with OS (p = 0.01 and 0.03, respectively).

CONCLUSION

None of the PET parameters is predictive of pathCR but TLG at baseline and post-CTRT are prognostic of OS.

Patterns of recurrence in early-stage oesophageal cancer after chemoradiotherapy and surgery compared with surgery alone

Background

Patterns of disease recurrence in patients with oesophageal cancer following treatment with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery (nCRTS) or surgery alone are poorly reported. An understanding of patterns of disease recurrence is important for subsequent treatment planning.

Methods

An analysis was undertaken of patterns of disease recurrence from a phase III multicentre randomized trial (FFCD9901) comparing nCRTS with surgery alone in patients with stage I and II oesophageal cancer.

Results

Some 170 patients undergoing surgical resection were included in the study. R0 resection rates were similar in the two groups: 94 per cent following nCRTSversus 92 per cent after surgery alone (P = 0·749). After a median follow-up of 94·2 months, recurrent disease was found in 39·4 per cent of the overall cohort (31 per cent after nCRTSversus 47 per cent following surgery alone; P = 0·030). Locoregional recurrence was diagnosed in 41 patients (17 versus 30 per cent respectively; P = 0·047) and distant metastatic recurrence in 47 (23 versus 31 per cent respectively; P = 0·244). Metastatic recurrence was more frequent in patients with adenocarcinoma than in those with squamous cell cancer (40 versus 23·1 per cent respectively; P = 0·032). ypT0 N0 category was associated with prolonged time to mixed locoregional and metastatic recurrence (P = 0·009), and time to locoregional (P = 0·044) and metastatic (P = 0·055) recurrence. In multivariable analysis, node-positive disease predicted both locoregional (P = 0·001) and metastatic (P &lt; 0·001) recurrence.

Conclusion

Locoregional disease control following nCRTS indicated a local field effect not related solely to completeness of resection. pN+ disease was strongly predictive of time to locoregional and metastatic disease recurrence.

Definitive, Preoperative, and Palliative Radiation Therapy of Esophageal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Long-term survival in patients with esophageal cancer remains dismal despite the recent improvements in surgery, the advances in radiotherapy (RT) technology, and the refinement of systemic treatments, including the advent of targeted therapies. Although surgery constitutes the treatment of choice for early-stage disease (stage I), a multimodal approach, including preoperative or definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and perioperative chemotherapy, is commonly pursued in patients with locally advanced disease.

METHODS

A review of the literature was performed to assess the role of RT, alone or in combination with chemotherapy, in the management of esophageal cancer.

RESULTS

Evidence from large, randomized phase III trials and meta-analyses supports the application of perioperative chemotherapy alone or preoperative concurrent CRT in patients with lower esophageal and esophagogastric junction adenocarcinomas. Preoperative CRT but not preoperative chemotherapy alone is now routinely used in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Additionally, definitive CRT without surgery has also emerged as a valuable approach in the management of resectable esophageal SCC to avoid surgery-related morbidity and mortality, whereas salvage surgery is reserved for those with persistent disease. Furthermore, brachytherapy offers a valuable option in the palliative treatment of patients with locally advanced, unresponsive disease. Fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) can facilitate a more accurate treatment response assessment and patient selection. Finally, the development of modern RT techniques, such as intensity-modulated and image-guided RT as well as FDG-PET-based RT planning, could further increase the therapeutic ratio of CRT.

CONCLUSION

Altogether, CRT constitutes an important tool in the treatment armamentarium for esophageal cancer. Further optimization of CRT using modern technology and imaging, targeted therapies, and newer chemotherapeutic agents is a major challenge and should be the goal of future research and clinical trials.

Analysis of pathological complete response rates with paclitaxel-based regimens in trimodality therapy for esophageal cancer

The study aimed to examine whether omission of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-containing chemotherapy alters pathological complete response rates in patients receiving trimodality therapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer. A total of 159 patients were identified. One hundred twenty-nine patients received platinum/5-FU concurrently with radiotherapy, and 30 received taxane/platinum-containing chemoradiotherapy prior to esophagectomy. Patients were staged using the 2002 American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system. Patients were matched between chemotherapeutic groups, with no significant demographic or clinical differences other than T stage (14% T2 in the 5-FU group; no T2 in the platinum/taxane group) and radiotherapy technique (8.5% received intensity-modulated radiotherapy in the 5-FU group; 60% in the platinum/taxane group). Pathological complete response rates for 5-FU and platinum/taxane-based groups were not significantly different (45% and 30%, respectively; P = 0.1548). Five-year overall survival and progression-free survival were not statistically different between the two groups. Significant predictors of pathological complete response included N stage (56% N0 and 33% N1; P = 0.0083), histology (37% adenocarcinoma and 59% squamous cell; P = 0.0123), tumor location (39% distal and 59% proximal/mid; P = 0.048), gastroesophageal junction involvement (33% involved and 55% uninvolved; P = 0.005), and radiotherapy end-to-surgery interval (50% < 55 days and 34% ≥ 55 days; P = 0.04). Grades 3-4 hematological toxicity was higher in the 5-FU group (36%) than in the paclitaxel-containing therapy group (17%; P = 0.0484). Use of paclitaxel-containing chemoradiotherapy did not result in inferior pathological complete response, overall survival, or progression-free survival rates, and resulted in less hematological toxicity than 5-FU treatment.

Trimodality therapy and definitive chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer: a single-center experience and review of the literature

In the UK, the standard of care for esophageal cancer has generally combined surgery with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, with definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) being reserved for certain subgroups. Chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery (trimodality therapy) has not been widely adopted. The outcomes of patients undergoing dCRT or trimodality therapy at our cancer center between 2004 and 2012 were restrospectively analyzed. Trimodality therapy was offered to selected patients of good performance status (World Health Organisation performance status 0/1), with squamous cell carcinoma or bulky adenocarcinoma. dCRT was offered to patients of good PS but with comorbidities, upper third tumors or at patient's request. Patients received four cycles of chemotherapy with a platinum agent (mostly cisplatin) and a fluoropyrimidine (mostly 5-fluorouracil) over a total of 11 weeks. Cycles 3 and 4 were given concurrently with radiotherapy: 50 Gy in 25 fractions for dCRT and 45 Gy in 25 fractions in the trimodality group. Surgery occurred 8-10 weeks following the completion of chemoradiotherapy. The cut-off length for maximum gross tumor volume length was 10 cm. One hundred two patients were included (47 received dCRT, and 55 received trimodality treatment). The majority of tumors were stage III (80.4%), and two-thirds were located in the distal esophagus (64.7%). Median follow-up was 44 months. The 2-year overall survival (OS) was 57.3% (median OS 39.7 months) for the dCRT group and 77.8% (median not reached) for the trimodality group. The 5-year OS rates were 38% and 58%, respectively. Postoperative mortality rate was low at 1.8%, and the pathological complete response rate was 23.6%. In conclusion, trimodality treatment for patients with esophageal and junctional gastroesophageal tumors offers high rates of 2-year survival, and the potential for long-term cure. dCRT is an established alternative for patients that are not fit or suitable for surgery.

Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is rapidly increasing in incidence in Western cultures. Barrett's esophagus is the presumed precursor lesion for this cancer. Several other risk factors for this cancer have been described, including chronic heartburn, tobacco use, white race, and obesity. Despite these known associations, most patients with EAC present with symptoms of dysphagia from late-stage tumors; only a small number of patients are identified by screening and surveillance programs. Diagnostic analysis of EAC usually commences with upper endoscopy followed by cross-sectional imaging. Endoscopic ultrasonography is useful to assess the local extent of disease as well as the involvement of regional lymph nodes. T1a EAC may be treated endoscopically, and some patients with T1b disease may also benefit from endoscopic therapy. Locally advanced disease is generally managed with esophagectomy, often accompanied by neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy. The prognosis is based on tumor stage; patients with T1a tumors have an excellent prognosis, whereas few patients with advanced disease have long-term survival.

[Long-term outcome of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy followed by surgery for esophageal cancer: a single institution retrospective study of 102 patients]

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

To report survival and morbidity of a large homogeneous cohort of patients with a locally advanced esophageal or cardia carcinoma and put in evidence predictive factors of locoregional control and survival.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Hundred and two patients were treated at the university hospital of Tours between 1990 and 2010 and received neo-adjuvant chemoradiation therapy with external irradiation (40Gy-44Gy) and two courses of chemotherapy (5-fluoro-uracile and cisplatine). Esophagectomy associated with lymph node dissection was performed about ten weeks after the end of chemoradiation therapy.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 22.4 months [6-185 months]. The overall survival rates at 2 and 5years were 53% and 27%, respectively. The median overall survival was estimated at 27months. The overall 2-year survival between patients "responders" and patients "non-responders" was 67% vs 26%, respectively (P<0.0001). In case of histological response, there was a benefit in terms of overall survival (P<0.0001), locoregional control (P<0.0036) and disease-free survival (P<0.001). Overall survival at 2years was 64% for ypN0 group vs 32% for ypN1 group (P<0.0001). The median survival was estimated at 37months against 15months in the absence of lymph node involvement (P<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Our results in terms of survival, tolerance and morbidity and mortality were comparable to those in the literature. Complete histological response of lymph node was associated with an improvement of local control, disease-free survival and overall survival.

Understanding Complete Pathologic Response in Oesophageal Cancer: Implications for Management and Survival

Despite significant improvement over recent decades, oesophageal cancer survival rates remain poor. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by oesophageal resection is mainstay of therapy for resectable oesophageal tumours. Operative morbidity and mortality associated with oesophagectomy remain high and complications arise in up to 60% of patients. Management strategies have moved towards definitive chemoradiotherapy for a number of tumour sites (head and neck, cervical, and rectal) particularly for squamous pathology. We undertook to perform a review of the current status of morbidity and mortality associated with oesophagectomy, grading systems determining pathologic response, and data from clinical trials managing patients with definitive chemoradiotherapy to inform a discussion on the topic.

Residual lymph node status is an independent prognostic factor in esophageal squamous cell Carcinoma with pathologic T0 after preoperative radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prognostic factors affecting survival in esophageal squamous cell Carcinoma (ESCC) patients with pathologic T0 (ypT0) underwent preoperative radiotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two hundred and ninety-six patients with ESCC who had received preoperative radiotherapy from 1980 to 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. One hundred patients were ypT0 after preoperative radiotherapy. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the predictive impact of residual lymph node status on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

Among the originally analyzed 296 patients, 100 (33.7 %) patients had ypT0, including 78 patients (78 %) with ypT0N0, and 22 patients (22 %) with ypT0N1. The 5-year OS of the total patients was 42.4 %. Patients with ypT0N0 have significant improved 5-year OS and PFS than ypT0N1 patients (OS: 50.7 % vs 13.6 %, P = 0.004; PFS: 49.6 % vs 13.6 %, P = 0.003). In multivariate analysis, residual lymph node status was also an independent prognostic factors for OS (HR: 0.406, 95 % CI: 0.240-0.686, P = 0.001) and PFS (HR: 0.427, 95 % CI: 0.248-0.734, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that patients with ypT0N0 after preoperative radiotherapy had significantly better OS and PFS than patients with ypT0N1 in ESCC. Residual nodal metastasis of ESCC patients with pathological complete response of the primary tumor after neoadjuvant radiotherapy does influence prognosis.

International comparison of the German evidence-based S3-guidelines on the diagnosis and multimodal treatment of early and locally advanced gastric cancer, including adenocarcinoma of the lower esophagus

BACKGROUND

Clinical guidelines are essential in implementing and maintaining nationwide stage-specific diagnostic and therapeutic standards. In 2011, the first German expert consensus guideline defined the evidence for diagnosis and treatment of early and locally advanced esophagogastric cancers. Here, we compare this guideline with other national guidelines as well as current literature.

METHODS

The German S3-guideline used an approved development process with de novo literature research, international guideline adaptation, or good clinical practice. Other recent evidence-based national guidelines and current references were compared with German recommendations.

RESULTS

In the German S3 and other Western guidelines, adenocarcinomas of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) are classified according to formerly defined AEG I-III subgroups due to the high surgical impact. To stage local disease, computed tomography of the chest and abdomen and endosonography are reinforced. In contrast, laparoscopy is optional for staging. Mucosal cancers (T1a) should be endoscopically resected "en-bloc" to allow complete histological evaluation of lateral and basal margins. For locally advanced cancers of the stomach or esophagogastric junction (≥T3N+), preferred treatment is preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy. Preoperative radiochemotherapy is an evidence-based alternative for large AEG type I-II tumors (≥T3N+). Additionally, some experts recommend treating T2 tumors with a similar approach, mainly because pretherapeutic staging is often considered to be unreliable.

CONCLUSIONS

The German S3 guideline represents an up-to-date European position with regard to diagnosis, staging, and treatment recommendations for patients with locally advanced esophagogastric cancer. Effects of perioperative chemotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy are still to be investigated for adenocarcinoma of the cardia and the lower esophagus.

The Prognostic Impact of Preoperative and Postoperative Chemoradiation in Clinical Stage II and III Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas: A Population Based Study in Taiwan

While preoperative chemoradiation followed by surgery (pre-OP CRT) has been widely applied in the treatment of patients with esophageal cancer, some studies have shown a survival benefit of postoperative chemoradiation (post-OP CRT). The optimal combination of multimodality therapy and the sequence of surgery and chemoradiation for esophageal cancer remain to be investigated. A total of 1385 patients with clinical stage II and III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) were included. On the basis of the sequence of surgery and chemoradiation, the patients were grouped as follows: preoperative chemoradiation followed by surgery (pre-OP CRT+S), surgery alone (S), and surgery followed by postoperative chemoradiation (S+post-OP CRT). Propensity score matching analysis was used to identify 78 well-balanced patients in each group for outcome comparison.In all, 753, 339, and 293 patients were in the pre-OP CRT+S, S, and S+post-OP CRT groups, respectively. Before matching, no differences were observed in the overall survival among the patients in these 3 groups (P = 0.422). After matching, both the pre-OP CRT+S and S+post-OP CRT groups were significantly associated with a better survival compared with the S group (pre-OP CRT+S vs. S: P < 0.001; S+post-OP CRT vs. S: P = 0.005). In contrast, the survival was similar between the pre-OP CRT+S and S+post-OP CRT groups (P = 0.544). In the subgroup analysis, patients with clinical T3/4 stage tumors or those with a tumor size greater than 5 cm were more likely to demonstrate an overall survival benefit from pre-OP CRT compared with post-OP CRT. Both pre-OP CRT and post-OP CRT demonstrated a survival benefit compared with surgery alone, which indicates the importance of trimodality therapy in patients with clinical stage II/III ESCC. However, no survival difference was observed among patients in the pre-OP CRT+S and S+post-OP CRT groups, which suggests that the sequence of surgery and chemoradiation may be irrelevant to the outcome.

Current status of management of malignant disease: current management of esophageal cancer

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to outline the evidence regarding the surgical management of esophageal cancer and provide a single institutional outline regarding its implementation.

BACKGROUND

Esophageal cancer is a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Surgery continues to play an important role in its management and offers the best chance for cure in localized and locally advanced disease. However, considerable controversy exists regarding the optimum treatment strategy in this patient population. Furthermore, despite advances in operative and perioperative care and the advent of minimally invasive approaches, the majority of patients succumb to distant metastases after curative intent resection. This failure highlights the importance of multimodal, stage-directed therapy in the management of patients with newly diagnosed esophageal tumors.

METHODS

Herein, we provide a comprehensive, evidence-based review of the diagnostic workup and locoregional and systemic treatment options available to esophageal cancer patients. The evidence supporting perioperative chemotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy is outlined and discussed. In addition, we highlight our institutional approach to the diagnostic evaluation, operative selection strategy, and perioperative treatment regimen selection based on the stage of presentation. Finally, we discuss the role of enhanced recovery in the postoperative management of this complex group of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Esophageal cancer remains a devastating disease with high mortality. Favorable outcomes mandate a multimodal, stage-directed treatment approach.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy for resectable esophago-gastric adenocarcinoma: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

Background

The efficacy and safety of preoperative chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for advanced esophago-gastric adenocarcinoma are still in question, and the prognosis of these patients is poor.

Methods

We systematically searched electronic databases from January 1990 to July 2014. The primary outcome was overall survival. The secondary outcomes were a R0 resection rate, positive rate of lymph node metastasis, postoperative recurrence rate, pathological complete response (pCR) rate and perioperative mortality. Overall survival was measured with a hazard ratio (HR), while other secondary outcomes were measured with an odds ratio (OR).

Results

Seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including 1085 patients were searched and, of these, 869 had adenocarcinoma. Patients receiving preoperative CRT had a longer overall survival (HR 0.74; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63–0.88), higher likelihood of R0 resection and greater chance of pCR, while they had a lower likelihood of lymph node metastasis and postoperative recurrence. The difference of perioperative mortality was non-significant. In addition, the result of the comparison between preoperative CRT and preoperative chemotherapy (CT) in two RCTs was non-significant.

Conclusion

Patients with resectable esophago-gastric adenocarcinoma can gain a survival advantage from preoperative CRT. However, limited to the number of RCTs, the effect of adding radiotherapy to preoperative CT separately is still uncertain and more high-quality prospective trials are needed.

On endocytoscopy and posttherapy pathologic staging in esophageal cancers, and on evidence-based methodology

The following, from the 12th OESO World Conference: Cancers of the Esophagus, includes commentaries on the value of endocytoscopy to replace biopsy histology for squamous cell carcinoma and the clinical significance of posttherapy pathologic stage in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma following preoperative chemoradiation; a short discussion of evidence-based methodology is also included.

Locally advanced esophageal carcinoma: is there still a role of surgery alone without neoadjuvant treatment?

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of upfront surgery without neoadjuvant pretreatment on survival in patients with clinically staged locally advanced esophageal carcinoma before the new era of neoadjuvant therapy regimes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of patients with clinically advanced esophageal cancer (cT3) and without neoadjuvant treatment who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy (TTE) in curative intent between 1992 and 2009. Locally advanced esophageal cancer was defined based on presurgical computertomography, endoscopy, and endosonography findings as a tumor infiltrating the paraesophageal tissue or the adjacent structures, with or without lymph node affection.

RESULTS

Histological subtypes included 131 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and 81 adenocarcinomas (AC). Complete resection (R0) was achieved in 84.0% of all 212 patients. Thirty-day mortality rate was 7.1%. Final pathology revealed 50 patients (23.5%) with pT1 or pT2 carcinomas which were preoperatively overstaged. Median overall survival following TTE for SCC was 13.7 months (95% CI; 10.1-17.2 months) and 24.8 months (95% CI; 14.5-35.1 months) for AC, respectively (p = 0.007). The 5-year survival rates were 14% for SCC and 26% for AC, respectively. In median, 27 lymph nodes were resected. On multivariable analyses, histological type, tumor localization, tumor grading, and resection status remained independent factors influencing overall survival.

CONCLUSION

Our results in the treatment of patients with locally advanced esophageal carcinoma undergoing primary TTE are comparable to the results reported for patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemo-radio-therapy followed by surgery in the pre-CROSS-study era. Histological subtypes show different survival rates and should therefore be separately examined in future trials.

Radiation dose does not influence anastomotic complications in patients with esophageal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation and transhiatal esophagectomy

Background

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation might increase anastomotic leakage and stenosis in patients with esophageal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation and esophagectomy. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of radiation dose on the incidence of leakage and stenosis.

Methods

Fifty-three patients with esophageal cancer received neoadjuvant chemoradiation (23 × 1.8 Gy) (combined with Paclitaxel and Carboplatin) followed by a transhiatal esophagectomy between 2009 and 2011. On planning CT, the future anastomotic region was determined and the mean radiation dose, V20, V25, V30, V35 and V40 were calculated. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine determinants of anastomotic leakage and stenosis.

Results

Anastomotic leaks occurred in 13 of 53 patients (25.5%) and anastomotic stenosis occurred in 24 of 53 patients (45.3%). Median follow-up was 20 months. Logistic regression analysis showed that mean dose, V20-V40, age, co-morbidity, method of anastomosis, operating time and interval between last radiotherapy treatment and surgery were not predictors of anastomotic leakage and stenosis.

Conclusions

A radiation dose of 23 × 1.8 Gy on the future anastomotic region has no influence on the occurrence of anastomotic leakage and stenosis in patients with esophageal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by transhiatal esophagectomy.

Current status of and perspectives regarding neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The significance of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains controversial with regard to the pathological response and long-term survival. We herein review the current status of and future perspectives regarding NACRT followed by esophagectomy for locally advanced ESCC. Some studies have suggested that a pathological complete response with NACRT is more common in patients with ESCC than in those with adenocarcinoma and that NACRT provided a survival benefit limited to patients with ESCC. However, NACRT may increase the risk of postoperative complications after esophagectomy. It is obvious that a favorable pathological response is the most important factor for obtaining a survival benefit, although no established parameters have been implemented clinically to predict the response to NACRT. Prospective clinical studies and basic research studies to identify predictive biomarkers for the response to NACRT are needed to aid in the development of NACRT treatment strategies for patients with ESCC.

A nomogram that predicts pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation also predicts survival outcomes after definitive chemoradiation for esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

Pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemoradiation for esophageal cancer is associated with improved outcomes. We evaluated whether a nomogram designed to predict who would have a pCR after trimodality therapy could also predict outcome after definitive chemoradiation.

METHODS

Patients in this retrospective, single-institution analysis had received chemoradiation without surgery for esophageal cancer from 1998 through 2010; 333 such patients had complete information on all variables required for the pCR nomogram: sex; T status (by endoscopic sonography); tumor grade; tumor avidity on positron emission tomography (PET); and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)-directed biopsy results after chemoradiation. We used multivariate Cox regression to test potential associations between clinical outcomes [overall survival (OS), locoregional recurrence, and distant metastasis] and patient or treatment factors and the pCR nomogram score; the component variables of the nomogram were not reintroduced into the multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

The median follow-up time for all patients (median age 66 years) was 18.2 months (30.7 months for those alive at the time of analysis). Patients with nomogram scores ≤125 (median for all patients) had significantly worse outcomes than patients with scores >125: median OS time 19.7 vs. 48.2 months; disease-free survival (DFS) time 6.1 vs. 31.1 months; locoregional failure-free survival time 17.7 months vs. not reached; and distant metastasis-free survival time 11.7 months vs. not reached (all P<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that nomogram score independently predicted each survival outcome, along with other patient and disease factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The pCR nomogram score predicted survival outcomes in patients receiving definitive chemoradiation for esophageal cancer. Although this nomogram requires further validation, it may prove useful for stratifying patients for clinical trials designed to intensify treatments for patients at the highest risk of relapse.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with protracted infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin for locally advanced resectable esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) has become the standard treatment for esophageal cancer (EC) in North America. The cisplatin/5-flurouracil (5-FU) combination has been the most commonly used regimen. For the last 15 years we incorporated a daily continuous infusion of 5-FU and 2 doses of cisplatin into our neoadjuvant CCRT for potentially resectable EC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between July 1997 and June 2012, 129 patients with locally advanced EC (T3 or N1 and higher), received neoadjuvant CCRT with cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) on day 1 and day 29 and continuous infusion of 5-FU (225 mg/m(2)/day) on the days of radiation.

RESULTS

The median age of patients was 63 years, 85% had adenocarcinoma, 29, 74 and 26 patients had stage II, III and IVa disease respectively, 110 patients had N1 disease based on the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 6(th) edition, 118 patients experienced weight loss during treatment. All patients completed treatment. Treatment was well tolerated with 14% of patients having ≥ grade 3 toxicity and 18 patients requiring hospital admission. Sixty-four percent of patients had surgical resection following CCRT, with disease progression and patient refusal being the most common reasons for not proceeding with surgery. An R0 resection was achieved in 96% of patients. A pathological complete response (pCR) was achieved in 45% of patients. With a median follow up of 26 months (1.2-144 months), 48/129 patients recurred and 60/129 died of their disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study has its limitation, however, and compared to the conventional chemotherapy regimens containing the cisplatin/5-FU doublet, our treatment strategy for locally advanced EC CCRT seems to be feasible and well tolerated.

State-of-the-art molecular imaging in esophageal cancer management: implications for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment

Molecular imaging techniques are increasingly being used in addition to standard imaging methods such as endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and computed tomography (CT) for many cancers including those of the esophagus. In this review, we will discuss the utility of the most widely used molecular imaging technique, (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET). (18)F-FDG PET has a variety of potential applications ranging from improving staging accuracy at the time of initial diagnosis to assisting in radiation target volume delineation. Furthermore, (18)F-FDG PET can be used to evaluate treatment response after completion of neoadjuvant therapy or potentially during neoadjuvant therapy. Finally, we will also discuss other novel molecular imaging techniques that have potential to further improve cancer care.

Role of radiotherapy in the pre-operative management of carcinoma of the esophagus

The use of radiotherapy in the management of carcinoma of the esophagus and gastro-esophageal junction has undergone much evolution over the past 2 decades. Advances to define its role have been slow with meta-analyses often providing the most useful data. In spite of this many institutions around the world are divided about the role of radiotherapy in this disease and attribute different roles to radiotherapy based on clinical stage, tumor site and histology. The purpose of this review is to try to define the role of radiotherapy given our current knowledge base and to review which current and future trials may fill the gaps of knowledge that we currently have. It will also highlight the difficulties in making firm recommendations about the use of radiotherapy especially in a time when technology and treatments are rapidly evolving.

Safety, efficacy, and long-term follow-up evaluation of perioperative epirubicin, Cisplatin, and capecitabine chemotherapy in esophageal resection for adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Perioperative epirubicin, cisplatin, and capecitabine (ECC) chemotherapy was evaluated in patients who underwent esophageal resection for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ).

METHODS

A cohort of 93 consecutive patients was analyzed. The median follow-up period was 60 months. Source data verification of adverse events was performed by two independent observers.

RESULTS

All three planned preoperative chemotherapy cycles were administered to 65 patients (69.9 %). Only 27 % of the patients completed both pre- and postoperative chemotherapy. The reasons for not receiving postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy could be separated in two main problems: toxicity of the preoperative chemotherapy and postoperative problems involving difficulty in recovery and postoperative complications. Finally, 25 patients (27 %), completed three preoperative and three postoperative cycles. Grades 3 and 4 nonhematologic adverse events of preoperative chemotherapy mainly consisted of thromboembolic events (16.2 %) and cardiac complications (7.5 %). A history of cardiac and vascular disease was independently associated with discontinuation of preoperative chemotherapy and the occurrence of grade 3 or higher adverse events. Surgery was performed for 94 % of all the patients who started with ECC chemotherapy. A radical resection (R0) was achieved in 93 % of the patients. A complete pathologic response was observed in 8 % of the patients. During a median follow-up period of 60 months, the median disease-free survival time was 28 months, and the median overall survival time was 36 months. The 3-year overall survival rate was 50 %, and the 5-year overall survival rate was 42 %.

CONCLUSION

For patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or GEJ, six cycles of ECC-based perioperative chemotherapy is associated with a relatively high number of adverse events. Although this toxicity did not affect the esophageal resectability rate, this regimen should be used with caution in this patient population.

Clinical predictors of early cancer-related mortality following neoadjuvant therapy and oesophagectomy

OBJECTIVES

Although oesophagectomy can be curative for patients with oesophageal cancer (OC), it may be associated with high morbidity and decreased quality of life. Identifying risk factors for early systemic progression or death after oesophagectomy may help to guide treatment choices in at-risk patients.

METHODS

Patients undergoing oesophagectomy following neoadjuvant therapy for OC (November 1987 to January 2013) were reviewed, excluding deaths ≤3 months. Univariate predictors of death ≤1 year of operation were explored by logistic regression. Significant predictors (P ≤ 0.10) were included in a multivariate model. A risk factor index was created based on the number of significant risk factors in individual patients.

RESULTS

Of 581 patients, 238 had neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemotherapy and radiation followed by oesophagectomy. Of these, 15% (n = 36) died ≤1 year following oesophagectomy and 69% of those from documented cancer recurrence. Clinical predictors of death ≤1 year by multivariate analysis included performance status >0 (HR 2.19; CI 1.02-4.69), poor (G3) tumour differentiation (HR 2.67; CI 1.14-6.21) and lack of clinical response (no response or progression versus complete and partial response) to neoadjuvant therapy (HR 2.77; CI 1.07-7.15). For patients with all factors evaluable (n = 167), variables were summed to derive a cumulative risk factor index, 0-3. An increased risk factor index (≥2) was highly associated with increased risk of death ≤1 year postoperatively (HR 4.84; CI 1.93-12.16), as well as with poor overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinically defined risk factors that predict early mortality following oesophagectomy include performance status, poor tumour differentiation and clinical response. In patients with at least two of these risk factors, 29% will die within 1 year of surgery. These patients should be identified and individual consideration given to less morbid surgical strategies or to alternative treatments.

Locally advanced gastroesophageal junction tumor: a treatment dilemma

Over the last several decades, the incidence of adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) has been increasing in developed countries. Although complete surgical resection remains the cornerstone of treatment for resectable disease, long-term outcomes are poor and recurrence rates are high with surgery alone in patients presenting with locally advanced disease. Multimodal therapy has been shown to improve survival; however, the optimal therapeutic approach remains controversial, and practices vary across the world. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy is generally used in the U.S., whereas perioperative chemotherapy without radiation is favored in most European countries. In this review, we discuss why the treatment of locally advanced GEJ tumors remains controversial, examine the evidence for various multimodal approaches, discuss their respective pros and cons, evaluate the role of radiation therapy, highlight some ongoing and planned clinical trials, and suggest areas that need further research.

Increased time from neoadjuvant chemoradiation to surgery is associated with higher pathologic complete response rates in esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

The interval between neoadjuvant chemoradiation treatment and surgery has been described as an important predictor of pathologic response to therapy in nonesophageal cancer sites. We retrospectively reviewed our experience with patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation and esophagectomy to better understand the impact of the timing of surgery on pathologic complete response rates in esophageal cancer.

METHODS

Two hundred thirty-one sequentially treated patients from 2000 to 2011 were identified for this study; 88 of these patients completed neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by esophagectomy at our institution. The interval between completion of chemoradiation and surgery was calculated for each patient. The patients were categorized into quartiles and also into 3-week interval groups. Treatment factors and surgical morbidity data, including the estimated blood loss and length of operative stay, were also assessed.

RESULTS

Quartiles for the neoadjuvant chemoradiation to surgery interval were less than 45 days, 46 to 50 days, 51 to 63 days, and 64+ days. Corresponding pathologic complete response rates were 12.5%, 20.0%, 22.7%, and 40.9% (p = 0.03). Results for 3-week intervals were similar (p = 0.02). There was no association between increasing time interval between the ending of neoadjuvant chemoradiation to surgery and length of stay longer than 2 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

A longer interval between completion of neoadjuvant chemoradiation and surgery was associated with higher pathologic complete response rates without an impact on surgical morbidity.