Advanced esophageal cancer

Preoperative evaluation of oesophageal adenocarcinoma

The preoperative evaluation of oesophageal adenocarcinoma involves endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET). With routine Barrett's oesophagus surveillance, superficial cancers are often identified. EUS, CT and PET have a limited role in the staging of superficial tumours. Standard EUS has limited accuracy, but high frequency ultrasound miniprobes are valuable for assessing tumour stage in superficial tumours. However, the best method for determining depth of invasion, and thereby stage of disease, is endoscopic mucosal resection. In contrast, in advanced oesophageal cancers, a multi-modality approach is crucial. Accurate tumour staging is very important since the treatment of advanced cancers involves a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. EUS is very useful for staging of the tumour and nodes. High frequency ultrasound miniprobes provide the ability to perform staging when the lesion is obstructing the oesophageal lumen. CT and PET provide valuable information regarding node and metastasis staging.

Complications of the rescue esophagectomy in advanced esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

Even though the esophageal cancer has innumerous treatment options its prognosis is still unsettled. Because esophagectomy is rarely curative, new and emerging therapies come to light such as isolated chemotherapy and radiotherapy or combined chemoradiation, followed or not by surgery. The rescue esophagectomy is an alternative for those patients with recurrent or advanced disease.

AIM

To evaluate the results of the rescue esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer who had previously undergone chemoradiation and describe local and systemic complications of the procedure.

METHODS

Eighteen patients with unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were treated with chemoradiation followed by rescue esophagectomy. All of them presented the preoperative clinical conditions required to indicate the surgical procedure. Transthoracic esophagectomy with right side thoracotomy plus midline laparotomy was performed. Patients were evaluated with regard to any postoperative complications.

RESULTS

There were five patients with evidence of fistula at the level of the anastomosis, and four of them progressed satisfactorily. Postoperative dilation was needed in five out of eighteen patients due to stenosis of the esophagogastric suture line. Seven patients did develop pulmonary infection with a fatal outcome for two of them. Among the patients who were available for a five-year follow-up, there was a rate of 53.8% of disease-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

These patients presented an elevated morbidity of the procedure related to many factors such as the long period between chemoradiation and surgery, which leads to tissue injury resulting in anastomotic fistulas. Nevertheless, esophagectomy seems to be valuable in cases without any other therapeutic option.

Interleukin-2 -330T>G genetic polymorphism associates with prognosis following surgery for thoracic esophageal squamous cell cancer

BACKGROUND

Key molecules in the T helper (Th)1 and Th2 pathways underlie differential responses to the progression and surgical treatment of cancer. We investigated the relationship between Th1/Th2 cytokine polymorphism and prognosis in patients with thoracic esophageal squamous cell cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study participants were 159 Japanese patients treated for thoracic esophageal squamous cell cancer with curative esophagectomy at Akita University Hospital. We determined the associations between prognosis following esophagectomy and genetic polymorphisms in Th1 cytokines (interleukin [IL]-2, Interferon-γ, IL-12β), and Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-10).

RESULTS

IL-2 -330T>G genetic polymorphism was significantly associated with prognosis after esophagectomy. Univariate and multivariate analyses using a Cox proportional hazards model revealed that patients carrying the IL-2 -330G/G genotype had a significantly poorer prognosis than those carrying the T/G or T/T genotype. However, IL-2 -330T>G polymorphism was not associated with preoperative serum IL-2 levels. Moreover, interferon-γ, IL-12β, IL-4, and IL-10 genetic polymorphisms were not associated with prognosis after esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal squamous cell cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

It is suggested that IL-2 -330T>G genetic polymorphism may be a predictive factor for prognosis in patients receiving esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal squamous cell cancer.

Trends in the management of esophageal carcinoma based on provider volume: treatment practices of 618 esophageal surgeons

Controversy exists regarding optimal treatment practices for esophageal cancer. Esophagectomy has received focus as one of the index procedures for both hospital and surgical quality despite a relative paucity of controlled trials to define best practices. A survey was created to determine the degree of heterogeneity in the treatment of esophageal cancer among a diverse group of surgeons and to use high-volume (HV) (>/=15 cases/year) and low-volume (LV) (<15 cases/year) designations to discern specific differences in the management of esophageal cancer from the surgeon's perspective. Based on society rosters, surgeons (n = 4000) in the USA and 15 countries were contacted via mail and queried regarding their treatment practices for esophageal cancer using a 50-item survey instrument addressing demographics, utilization of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, and choice of surgical approach for esophageal resection and palliation. There were 618 esophageal surgeons among respondents (n = 1447), of which 77 (12.5%) were considered HV. The majority of HV surgeons (87%) practiced in an academic setting and had cardiothoracic training, while most LV surgeons were general surgeons in private practice (52.3%). Both HV and LV surgeons favored the hand-sewn cervical anastomosis and the stomach conduit. Minimally invasive esophagectomy is performed more frequently by HV surgeons when compared with LV surgeons (P = 0.045). Most HV surgeons use neoadjuvant therapy for patients with nodal involvement, while LV surgeons are more likely to leave the decision to the oncologist. With a few notable exceptions, substantial heterogeneity exists among surgeons' management strategies for esophageal cancer, particularly when grouped and analyzed by case volume. These results highlight the need for controlled trials to determine best practices in the treatment of this complex patient population.

Lymph node staging in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a comparative study of endoscopic ultrasonography versus computed tomography

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is established as a standard approach for locoregional staging of esophageal cancer. However, only a few published studies have attempted to correlate the station of the abnormal lymph nodes detected by EUS with the definitive histology. We compared EUS and computed tomography (CT) in the initial staging of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with esophageal cancer undergoing EUS were evaluated. EUS findings and patient data including histopatology were collected prospectively and analyzed retrospectively. Lymph node locations were divided into three groups; abdominal (A), paraesophageal (B), and thoracic paratracheal (C).

RESULTS

A total of 365 consecutive patients underwent EUS and 159 patients underwent esophagectomy without neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Thirty-eight patients were excluded (insufficient EUS, etc.), and 121 patients were enrolled. The overall accuracy of EUS was 64% (sensitivity 68%, specificity 58%, positive predictive value [PPV] 68%), CT was 51% (sensitivity 33%, specificity 75%, PPV 64%), and CT + EUS was 64% (sensitivity 74%, specificity 50%, PPV 66%). The accuracy of EUS was higher than CT in Groups A and C. Sensitivity of CT was lower than that of EUS alone and CT + EUS.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has demonstrated that EUS is a more accurate technique than contrast-enhanced CT for detecting abnormal lymph nodes. Sensitivity of CT was lower than that of EUS alone and CT + EUS. But some metastatic lymph nodes in neck and abdominal fields are only detectable by CT. Therefore, both EUS and CT should be undertaken for routine examination prior to treatment of esophageal cancer.

Salvage esophagectomy after exclusive chemoradiotherapy: results at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA)

Surgical resection is considered the gold standard treatment for esophageal cancer, with global cure rates ranging from 15 to 40%. Exclusive chemoradiotherapy has been used for patients with locally advanced esophageal carcinoma or without clinical conditions for esophagectomy, reaching a 5-year survival rate of up to 30%. However, locoregional control is poor, with local recurrence of 40-60%, being reported in the literature. Maybe, these patients can benefit from salvage surgery. In this study, 15 patients with esophageal cancer submitted to salvage esophagectomy after exclusive chemoradiotherapy treatment were retrospectively analyzed. Salvage esophagectomy was demonstrated to be technically feasible. However, it presents with high surgical morbidity. Currently, salvage esophagectomy is considered the best available treatment to attempt cure in cases of tumor recurrence or persistence after exclusive chemoradiotherapy. All the other types of treatments are regarded as palliative with discouraging survival results.

Esophageal cancer: ultrasonography

Esophageal malignancy is a major source of morbidity and mortality, despite the recently increased attention to screening and early detection. Prognosis for esophageal cancer remains grim, with advanced tumor stage and lymph node metastases conferring even graver outcomes. Several studies have demonstrated that the addition of preoperative neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy may improve survival in patients with locally advanced tumor (T3) disease or local lymph node metastases. It is here that endoscopic ultrasonography finds its niche in the precise staging of these tumors and the subsequent use of stage-dependent treatment protocols.

Risk factors of lymph node metastasis in T1 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND AIM

To perform endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for T1 esophageal cancer, it is essential to estimate the lymph node status exactly. In order to evaluate the feasibility of EMR for esophageal cancers, we evaluated the clinicopathological features of T1 esophageal squamous carcinomas with an emphasis on the risk factors and distribution patterns of lymph node metastasis.

METHODS

From 1994 to 2006, a total of 200 patients with T1 esophageal carcinoma were treated surgically in our institution. Among them, clinicopathological features were evaluated for 197 consecutive patients with T1 squamous cell carcinoma.

RESULTS

The frequency of lymph node involvement was 6.25% (4/64) in mucosal cancers and 29.3% (39/133) in submucosal cancers (P < 0.001). In patients with M1 (n = 32) and M2 (n = 14) cancers, no lymph node metastasis was found. In multivariate analysis, size larger than 20 mm, endoscopically non-flat type, and endo-lymphatic invasion were significant independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis. The differentiation of tumor cell was not a risk factor for lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

We suggest that EMR may be attempted for flat superficial squamous esophageal cancers smaller than 20 mm. After EMR, careful histological examination is mandatory.

Esofagectomia de resgate após quimiorradioterapia radical exclusiva: resultados do departamento de cirurgia abdôminopélvica do Instituto Nacional de Câncer

OBJETIVO: Relatar a experiência e os resultados da Seção de Cirurgia Abdôminopélvica do Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA) com a esofagectomia de resgate em paciente portador de câncer de esôfago recidivado após tratamento quimiorradioterápico exclusivo. MÉTODO: Foram analisados retrospectivamente 14 pacientes portadores de câncer de esôfago recidivado e que foram submetidos à esofagectomia de resgate entre março de 1999 e maio de 2006. Todos os pacientes incluídos no estudo receberam tratamento primário quimiorradioterápico radical exclusivo conforme protocolo RTOG 85-01 e apresentaram persistência ou recidiva de doença. RESULTADOS: A idade média foi de 63 anos (39-72 anos). Oito pacientes eram do sexo masculino e seis pacientes do sexo feminino. Nove pacientes apresentavam o tumor localizado no esôfago médio e cinco pacientes apresentavam doença no esôfago distal, sendo carcinoma epidermóide em 12 pacientes e adenocarcinoma em dois pacientes. A mediana do tempo cirúrgico foi de 305 minutos (240-430 minutos). A ressecção completa do tumor (cirurgia R0) foi realizada em 13 pacientes e somente um paciente apresentou doença residual macroscópica em ápice pulmonar. A morbidade total da série foi de 69,2 %. A mortalidade operatória foi zero (todos os pacientes evoluíram para alta hospitalar). CONCLUSÃO: A esofagectomia de resgate demonstrou-se factível tecnicamente porém apresenta elevada morbidade operatória. Esta modalidade cirúrgica corresponde atualmente ao melhor tratamento disponível para se obter cura nos casos de tumor recidivado ou que tenho persistido com doença após quimiorradioterapia radical exclusiva. Todos os outros tipos de tratamento são considerados paliativos e com resultados de sobre-vida desapontadores.

Role of endoscopic ultrasonography in the staging and follow-up of esophageal cancer

PURPOSE

To evaluate the role of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in the initial staging and follow-up of esophageal cancer on the basis of a review of the published literature.

METHODS

Articles published from 1985 to 2005 were searched and reviewed using the following keywords: "esophageal cancer staging," "endoscopic ultrasound," and "endoscopic ultrasonography."

RESULTS

For initial anatomic staging, EUS results have consistently shown more than 80% accuracy compared with surgical pathology for depth of tumor invasion (T). Accuracy increased with higher stage, and was >90% for T3 cancer. EUS results have shown accuracy in the range of 75% for initial staging of regional lymph nodes (N). EUS has been invariably more accurate than computed tomography for T and N staging. EUS is limited for staging distant metastases (M), and therefore EUS is usually performed after a body imaging modality such as computed tomography or positron emission tomography. Pathologic staging can be achieved at EUS using fine-needle aspiration (FNA) to obtain cytology from suspect Ns. FNA has had greatest efficacy in confirming celiac axis lymph node metastases with more than 90% accuracy. EUS is inaccurate for staging after radiation and chemotherapy because of inability to distinguish inflammation and fibrosis from residual cancer, but a more than 50% decrease in tumor cross-sectional area or diameter has been found to correlate with treatment response.

CONCLUSION

EUS has a central role in the initial anatomic staging of esophageal cancer because of its high accuracy in determining the extent of locoregional disease. EUS is inaccurate for staging after radiation therapy and chemotherapy, but can be useful in assessing treatment response.