Dose-response relationship in locoregional control for patients with stage II-III esophageal cancer treated with concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy

Systematic Review of Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND AND AIM

There has been limited progress made in improving the suboptimal outcomes delivered by conventionally fractionated radiotherapy (RT) for oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) and squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). A greater biological effect may be achieved using hypofractionated RT (HFRT), though the toxicity, tolerability and efficacy of this approach in OAC and OSCC is uncertain.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was carried out in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews guidance. Medline, EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched for terms relating to HFRT (>2.4Gy per fraction) for OAC or OSCC. All relevant clinical studies published between January 2000 and April 2023 were included. Study quality was assessed using predefined criteria.

RESULTS

Ninety-six studies were screened and 20 subsequently included, together incorporating 1208 patients. Fourteen studies focussed on neoadjuvant or definitive treatment. These were predominantly retrospective (n = 10, 71%) though two (n = 2, 14%) early phase trials were identified. Most focussed on OSCC (n = 7, 47%) or mixed OSCC/OAC (n = 6, 43%) populations. Four (28.6%) included a conventionally fractionated chemoradiotherapy (CRT) comparator, against which median overall (mOS) and progression free survival outcomes from HFRT did not differ. Reported mOS for HFRT ranged between 29-36 months at 2.5-3.125Gy per fraction (total dose 50-60Gy) for OAC and OSCC combined. Toxicity and tolerability with HFRT was comparable with conventionally fractionated CRT up to, but not exceeding, 5Gy. Three (50%) of the six palliative-intent studies were early phase trials and most (n = 4, 67%) focussed on OAC and OSCC. Response rates with HFRT in the palliative setting were 63.6-88.0%.

CONCLUSION

These data provide evidence in OAC/OSCC for promising efficacy and an acceptable toxicity profile for moderately HFRT, alone or with concurrent chemotherapy. These data should prompt prospective, randomised comparisons of HFRT and conventionally fractionated CRT and single-modality RT schedules.

REGISTRATION DETAILS

PROSPERO; CRD42023457791.

Radiotherapy for patients with esophageal cancer aged 80 years or older: A 16-year experience

PURPOSE

Radiotherapy (RT) plays an important role in esophageal cancer (EC) patients aged ≥80 years. However, the survival modality and prognostic factors remain poorly understood. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the tolerance and long-term overall survival (OS) of patients aged ≥80 years who were diagnosed with EC and underwent definitive RT.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 213 consecutive patients with EC over 80 years old who were treated with curative intent RT between February 1999 and December 2015 at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical prognostic variables were analyzed against OS in univariate analyses using log-rank tests and in a multivariate model using Cox regression proportional hazards analysis.

RESULT

The median patient age was 82 (range: 80-94) years. Atotal of 192 patients (90.1%) completed the definitive RT (median: 60 Gy, range: 50-72 Gy), and 11 patients had grade 4 or higher acute toxicity, including esophagitis, a cardiac event, infections, and sudden death. Atotal of 168 deaths (78.9%) were observed with a median follow up of 47 months (range: 0-153 months). The OS rates were 50.3%, 17.6%, and 13.2% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Multivariable analysis identified that tumors located in the cervical and upper thorax, a shorter tumor lesion, RT treatment of 50-60Gy, and a better response to treatment were the factors associated with longer OS.

CONCLUSION

Definitive RT could be considered as an effective treatment for patients with EC who are older than 80 years, and 50-60 Gy seems to be a reasonable dose for these patients.

Dose Evaluation in 2-Phase Method for Advanced Esophageal Cancer by Hybrid Irradiation Techniques

Purpose

In concurrent chemoradiotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer, a 2-phase method consisting of initial irradiation of a wide elective nodal region and boost irradiation of the primary lesion is commonly employed. Although dose escalation to the primary lesion may be required to achieve higher local control rates, the radiation dose to critical organs must not exceed dose constraints. To achieve an optimum balance of dose prescription and dose reduction to surrounding organs, such as the lungs and heart, we compared hybrid dose distributions and investigated the best combination of the following recent irradiation techniques: volumetric modulation arc therapy (VMAT), proton broad-beam irradiation, and intensity-modulated proton beam therapy (IMPT).

Materials and Methods

Forty-five patients with advanced esophageal cancer whose primary lesions were located in the middle- or lower-thoracic region were studied. Radiotherapy plans for the initial and boost irradiation in the 2-phase method were calculated using VMAT, proton broad-beam irradiation, and IMPT calculation codes, and the dose-volume histogram indices of the lungs and heart for the accumulated plans were compared.

Results

In plans using boost proton irradiation with a prescribed dose of 60 Gy(RBE), all dose-volume histogram indices were significantly below the tolerance limits. Initial and boost irradiation with VMAT resulted in the median dose of V30 Gy(RBE)(heart) of 27.4% and an achievement rate below the tolerance limit of 57.8% (26 cases). In simulations of dose escalation up to 70 Gy(RBE), initial and boost IMPT resulted in the highest achievement rate, satisfying all dose constraints in 95.6% (43 cases).

Conclusion

Applying VMAT to both initial and boost irradiation is not recommended because of the increased risk of the cardiac dose exceeding the tolerance limit. IMPT may allow dose escalation of up to 70 Gy(RBE) without radiation risks to the lungs and heart in the treatment of advanced esophageal cancer.

The impact of radiation dose on the efficacy of definitive chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced esophageal carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To investigate the impact of radiation dose on the efficacy of definitive chemoradiotherapy(dCCRT) in patients with locally advanced esophageal carcinoma. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Wanfang, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI) were searched for eligible studies. Studies that compared high-dose radiation(HD-RT) group with low-dose radiation(LD-RT) group using modern radiotherapy techniques for locally advanced esophageal carcinoma patients in dCCRT were identified. The hazard ratios (HR) for overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and the odds ratios (OR) for clinical complete response (cCR), local-regional failure (LRF), distant metastasis (DM), and grade≥3 AEs. Meta-analysis was performed when relevant data were available. Eleven studies involving 1943 patients were included for analyses. The results showed that the HD-RT group had better OS (pooled HR 0.78 [0.70, 0.87], p < .00001), PFS (pooled HR 0.72 [0.55, 0.94], p = .01), cCR (OR 1.52 [1.13, 2.05], p = .005), and LRF (OR 0.60 [0.45, 0.80], p = .0004). In addition, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of DM (OR 1.43 [1.00, 2.04], p = .05), grade 3-5 radiation pneumonitis (OR 1.38 [0.71, 2.68], p = .35), grade 3-5 radiation esophagitis (OR 1.36 [0.88, 2.10], p = .17), grade 3-5 other esophageal toxicities(stenosis/fistula/hemorrhage) (OR 1.22 [0.75, 2.00], p = .43), and treatment-related death (OR 1.40 [0.73, 2.68], p = .31). High-dose radiotherapy in definitive CCRT for patients with locally advanced esophageal carcinoma is associated with improved PFS, OS, cCR, and LC with no increase of grade≥3AEs. Simultaneously, we await the preliminary and final results of several ongoing dose-escalation randomized trials. Furthermore, future studies should provide personalized radiotherapy doses for these patients.

Do higher radiation doses improve survival for cervical esophageal squamous cell cancer patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy using intensity-modulated radiotherapy? A propensity-score matched analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to determine whether higher doses of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) could improve the survival rate in patients of cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (CESCC), and lead to more severe treatment-related toxicity.

METHODS

The clinical records of stage I-IVA CESCC patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) using IMRT between January 2013 and June 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients in the high-dose (HD) group received ≥60 Gy and those in the standard-dose group received <60 Gy. A propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to balance the confounding factors between both groups. The primary endpoint was over-survival (OS). progression-free survival (PFS), loco-regional control (LRC), and treatment-related toxicity were also evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 136 patients with CESCC were included. Patients with N1-3 nodal and stages III-IVA of the disease (P < 0.05) were included in the HD group. The differences in the OS, PFS, and LRC between the two groups were not statistically significant (P = 0.350, 0.063, and 0.099, respectively). After PSM, significantly longer PFS and LRC were observed in the HD group. The difference in OS between the two groups was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference in the incidence of treatment-related toxicity between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this PSM analysis suggested that higher doses may improve PFS and LRC for CESCC patients receiving CRT using OMRT, but do not demonstrate any statistically significant advantage in improving OS.

Cardiac Substructures Dosimetric Predictors for Cardiac Toxicity After Definitive Radiotherapy in Esophageal Cancer

PURPOSE

To investigate the predictive value of the cardiac substructures (CSs) dosimetric parameters for cardiac toxicity after definitive radiation therapy in locally advanced esophageal cancer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Between August 2010 and January 2016, 716 patients with stage 2-3 esophageal cancer receiving definitive radiation therapy at 2 institutions were divided into training (n = 432) and external validation (n = 284) cohorts. Dose-volume histogram parameters for the whole heart (WH) and CSs were extracted. Competing risks and Cox regressions analyses were performed. The predictive performance of the models was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and the Brier score.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 93 months, 68 patients (15.7%) developed grade ≥3 cardiac events (G3+ CEs), with a median of 13.5 months to the first event. Multivariable analysis showed left ventricle, left anterior descending (LAD), and mean left circumflex (LCX) variables were significantly associated with G3+ CEs. The AUCs and Brier scores demonstrated favorable predictive accuracies of the models integrating these CS variables when predicting G3+ CEs in the training and validation cohorts. However, compared with the WH variables, the CS variables did not significantly improve the prediction of G3+ CEs. Nevertheless, when G3+ acute coronary syndrome and/or congestive heart failure (ACS/CHF) CE was the outcome of interest, models based on the LAD or LCX variables were superior to the WH variable models in training and validation cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

Models based on CS variables showed favorable predictive accuracy for G3+ CEs. The LAD and LCX variables significantly improved the prediction of G3+ ACS/CHF events compared with the WH variables. Radiation doses to CSs, such as LCX and LAD, should be monitored to help reduce the occurrence of significant CEs in patients with esophageal cancer undergoing definitive radiation therapy.

Effect of Adjuvant Radiation Dose on Survival in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: For patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated with surgery alone, the incidence of local-regional recurrence remains unfavorable. Postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) has been associated with increased local-regional recurrence-free survival (LRFS), although its application is limited by concerns of PORT-related toxicities. Methods: Among 3591 patients with ESCC analyzed in this study, 2765 patients with T3-4N0 and T1-4N1-3 lesions and specific local-regional status information were analyzed in a subsequent analysis of adjuvant radiation dose (aRTD) effect. Application of the restricted cubic spline regression model revealed a non-linear relationship between aRTD and survival/radiotoxicity. Linear regression analysis (LRA) was performed to evaluate correlations between LRFS and overall survival (OS)/ disease-free survival (DFS). Results: For patients staged T1−2N0, T1−2N1−3, T3−4N0, and T3−4N1−3, 5-year OS in PORT and non-PORT groups were 77.38% vs. 72.91%, p = 0.919, 52.35% vs. 46.60%, p = 0.032, 73.41% vs. 61.19%, p = 0.005 and 38.30% vs. 25.97%, p < 0.001. With aRTD escalation, hazard ratios (HRs) of OS/DFS declined until aRTD exceeded 50Gy, then increased, whereas that of LRFS declined until aRTD exceeded 50 Gy, then remained steady. HR of treatment-related mortality was stable until aRTD exceeded 50 Gy, then increased. LRA revealed strong correlations between LRFS and OS/DFS (r = 0.984 and r = 0.952, respectively). An absolute 1% advancement in LRFS resulted in 0.32% and 0.34% improvements in OS and DFS. Conclusions: An aRTD of 50Gy was well-tolerated, with favorable survival resulting from PORT-related LRFS improvement in patients staged T3−4N0 or T1-4N1−3. Further stratification analyses based on tumor burden would help determine potential PORT-beneficiaries.

Combined modality therapy for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Radiation dose and survival analyses

BACKGROUND

We aimed to analyze the radiation dose and compare survival among combined modality therapy using modern radiation techniques for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients with clinically staged T1-4N0-3M0 ESCC from 2014 to 2018. Patients who received combined modality therapies with curative intent were enrolled. The overall survival (OS) rates among combined modality therapy were compared. The clinical variables and impacts of radiation dose on survival were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model.

RESULTS

Of the 259 patients, 141 (54.4%) received definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (DCCRT); 67 (25.9%) underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery (NCRT+S); 51 (19.7%) obtained surgery followed by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (S+ACRT). Two-year OS rates of the DCCRT, NCRT+S and S+ACRT group were 48.9, 61.5 and 51.2%. In the subgroup analysis of DCCRT group, the 2-year OS of patients receiving radiation dose 55-60 Gy was 57.1%. Multivariate analyses showed that clinical stage (p = 0.004), DCCRT with 55-60 Gy (p = 0.043) and NCRT+S with pathological complete response (pCR) (p = 0.014) were significant prognostic factors for better OS. The radiation dose-survival curve demonstrated a highly positive correlation between higher radiation dose and better survival.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that NCRT+S can provide a favorable survival for patients with ESCC, especially in patients who achieved pCR. The optimal radiation dose might be 55-60 Gy for patients receiving DCCRT via modern radiation techniques. Further randomized clinical studies are required to confirm the survival benefits between NCRT+S and DCCRT with escalated dose.

Proton Beam Therapy for Esophageal Cancer

Simple Summary

Early-stage esophageal cancer is managed surgically, with the addition of radiotherapy for locally advanced disease. Current photon-based radiotherapy results in a high treatment-related complications, due to proximal organ involvement. The anatomic location of the esophagus raises challenges due to the anatomical changes associated with diaphragmatic motion, weight loss, tumor changes, and set-up variability. These propelled the interest in proton beam therapy (PBT), which theoretically offers a reduction in the radiation exposure to healthy neighboring tissues with improvements in the therapeutic ratio. In this review, we present the role of PBT for esophageal cancer, including treatment planning, early clinical comparisons with photon-based techniques, ongoing trials, current challenges, toxicities, and issues of equity and health services.

Abstract

Early-stage esophageal cancer is often primarily managed surgically, with the addition of radiotherapy for locally advanced disease. However, current photon-based radiotherapy regimens and surgery results in a high incidence of treatment-related cardiac and pulmonary complications due to the involvement of proximal organs at risk. In addition, the anatomic location of the esophagus raises challenges for radiotherapy due to the anatomical changes associated with diaphragmatic motion, weight loss, tumor changes, and set-up variability. These challenges propelled the interest in proton beam therapy (PBT), which theoretically offers a reduction in the radiation exposure to healthy neighboring tissues with improvements in the therapeutic ratio. Several dosimetric studies support the potential advantages of PBT for esophageal cancer treatment however, translation of these results to improved clinical outcomes remains unclear with limited clinical data, especially in large populations. Studies on the effect on quality of life are likewise lacking. Here, we review the existing and emerging role of PBT for esophageal cancer, including treatment planning, early clinical comparisons of PBT with photon-based techniques, recently concluded and ongoing clinical trials, challenges and toxicities, effects on quality of life, and global inequities in the treatment of esophageal cancer.

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy with more than 60 Gy improved the survival of inoperable patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A population-based real-world study

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is widely applied during the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but the optimal radiation dose still lacks a consensus. The aim of this study was to explore the optimal radiation dose for inoperable locally advanced ESCC patients treated with IMRT in a real-world clinical setting.A total of 90 inoperable ESCC patients with locally advanced stages of II-IVA treated with IMRT in our institute between February 1, 2014 and June 30, 2019 were included in this retrospective study. Sixty patients had received >60 Gy (high dose group) and 30 patients had received ≤60 Gy (low dose group). The median radiation dose was 66 Gy (range: 61-70 Gy) and 50.2 Gy (range: 40-60 Gy), respectively. Concurrent chemotherapies were platinum-based regimens.The median progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of all patients were 7.6 and 14.1 months, respectively. Patients in the high dose group exhibited a significantly better PFS (1-year PFS 34.6% vs 22.8%; 2-year PFS 11.9% vs 0%, P = .008) and OS (1-year OS 57.5% vs 39.5%; 2-year OS 31.4% vs 15.8%, P = .007). The median PFS in the high and low dose groups were 8.1 and 6.1 months, and the median OS were 15.4 and 8.5 months, respectively. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that radiation dose (>60 Gy vs ≤60 Gy) was independently prognostic factor for OS (HR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.22-0.89; P = .021), but not for PFS (HR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.31-1.02; P = .058). There was no significant difference in treatment-related toxicities of grade ≥3 between the 2 groups (P = .402).This retrospective study confirmed that higher radiation dose (>60 Gy) resulted in better survival outcomes for inoperable patients with locally advanced ESCC treated with IMRT.

Comparison of intensity modulated proton therapy beam configurations for treating thoracic esophageal cancer

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Dosimetric benefit of proton over x-ray treatment for thoracic esophageal cancer.

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Reduction of pulmonary and cardiac toxicity by proton therapy.

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Intensity modulated proton therapy beam configurations designed by tumor location.

Background and purpose

Specific proton-beam configurations are needed to spare organs at risk (OARs), including lungs, heart, and spinal cord, when treating esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in the thoracic region. This study aimed to propose new intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) beam configurations and to demonstrate the benefit of IMPT compared with intensity-modulated x-ray therapy (IMXT) for treating ESCC.

Material and methods

IMPT plans with three different beam angle configurations were generated on CT datasets of 25 ESCC patients that were treated with IMXT. The IMPT beam designs were two commonly-used beam configurations (anteroposterior and posterior oblique) and a recently proposed beam configuration (anterosuperior with posteroinferior). The target doses were 50–54 Gy(RBE) and 60–64 Gy(RBE) to the low-risk and high-risk target volumes, respectively. Robust optimization was applied for the IMPT plans. The differences in the dose-volume parameters between the IMXT and IMPT plans were compared.

Results

With target coverage comparable to standard IMXT, IMPT had significantly lower mean doses to the OARs. IMPT with an anteroposterior opposing beam generated the lowest lung dose (mean = 7.1 Gy(RBE), V₂₀ = 14.1%) and the anterosuperior with posteroinferior beam resulted in the lowest heart dose (mean = 12.8 Gy(RBE), V₃₀ = 15.7%) and liver dose (mean = 3.9 Gy(RBE), V₃₀ = 5.9%). For the subgroup of patients with an inferior tumor location (PTVs overlapping a part of the contoured heart), the novel beam demonstrated the optimal OARs sparing.

Conclusion

Compared with IMXT, the IMPT plans significantly reduced the radiation dose to the surrounding organs when treating ESCC. IMPT beam configuration selection depends on the tumor location relative to the heart.

Durvalumab and tremelimumab with definitive chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The current standard treatment for patients with inoperable, locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT).

METHODS

Patients with locally advanced ESCC received 2 cycles of 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, durvalumab, and tremelimumab every 3 weeks with concurrent radiation therapy (60.2 or 64.5 grays). After completing CCRT plus immunotherapy, patients received 2 cycles of consolidative durvalumab and tremelimumab followed by durvalumab monotherapy every 4 weeks for 2 years after enrollment. Their survival outcomes were compared with those from a propensity score-matched historical control group that had received CCRT alone.

RESULTS

In total, 40 patients were enrolled and analyzed. The 24-month progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival rates were 57.5% and 75%, respectively. Compared with the historical control group (n = 75), the study population had significantly longer PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28-0.97; P = .040) and overall survival (HR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.25-0.98; P = .043). In the study population, patients who had PD-L1-positive tumors (n = 28) had significantly longer PFS (HR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.07-0.54; P < .001) and overall survival (HR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.05-0.56; P = .001) compared with those who had PD-L1-negative tumors (n = 11). However, there was no difference in survival outcomes according to PD-L1 status in the historical control group, indicating a strong interaction between PD-L1-positive status and survival outcomes in the treatment groups (PFS, P for interaction = .003; overall survival, P for interaction = .002).

CONCLUSIONS

Durvalumab and tremelimumab with definitive CCRT had promising efficacy in patients with locally advanced ESCC. In addition, PD-L1 expression had strong predictive value in the study population.

Radiotherapy Combined With Concurrent Nedaplatin-Based Chemotherapy for Stage II-III Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Objective

This study was conducted to explore the appropriate radical radiation dose in concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for patients with inoperable stage II-III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods

This retrospective study included patients with esophageal cancer (EC) from the database of patients treated at the Affiliated Zhangjiagang Hospital of Soochow University (1/2015-12/2019). Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective remission rate (ORR), first failure pattern, and toxicities were collected.

Results

112 patients treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) combined with concurrent chemotherapy of nedaplatin-based regimens were included. Fifty-eight (51.8%) and 54 (48.2%) patients received 60 (HD) and 50.4 (LD) Gy of radiotherapy, respectively. The HD group showed superior OS and a trend for longer PFS compared with the LD group (median OS: 25.5 vs 17.5 months, P = .021; median PFS: 14.0 vs 10.5 months, P = .076). There were more patients with a complete remission (CR) in the HD group than in the LD group (P=.016). The treatment-related toxicities were generally acceptable, but HD radiotherapy would increase the incidence of grade ≥3 late radiotoxicity (22.4% vs 5.6%, P = .011).

Conclusion

In nedaplatin-based CCRT for stage II-III ESCC, the radiotherapy dose of 60 Gy achieved a better prognosis.

Strengths and limitations of this study

A comparative study of 50.4 Gy and 60 Gy was conducted to evaluate whether 50.4 Gy can be used as a radical radiotherapy dose for inoperable stage II-III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma from a real-world perspective.The highly consistent selection criteria in our study make analysis results highly reliable and scientific.The existing research results support that nedaplatin can be used in concurrent chemoradiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and this study focuses on the discovery of a better nedaplatin-based combination regimen.The findings of this study are limited to a single-center study with a non-large sample size.Inevitably, recall bias may exist in this retrospective study.Surgery was not involved in the follow-up treatment after concurrent chemoradiotherapy, which may worsen the prognosis of some patients.

Comparison of Pathologic Complete Response Rates and Oncologic Outcomes in Patients With Surgically Resectable Esophageal Cancer Treated With Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation to 50.4 Gy vs 41.4 Gy

Background

Excellent outcomes and high rates of pathologic complete response (pCR) have been reported in patients with operable esophageal carcinoma using 41.4 Gy of radiation with concurrent carboplatin and paclitaxel. With pCR rates similar to studies using higher doses, it remains unclear whether doses greater than 41.4 Gy result in improved outcomes. This study aims to compare pCR rates and oncologic outcomes in patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation to 50.4 Gy vs 41.4 Gy.

Methods

We reviewed the charts of patients with operable esophageal carcinoma who were treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by oncologic resection. Our primary endpoint was the pCR rate. Secondary endpoints were overall survival, progression-free survival (PFS), and toxicity. 

Results

We identified 43 patients meeting inclusion criteria. Nineteen patients were treated with 41.4 Gy and 24 were treated with 50.4 Gy. Cohorts were well-matched, except for a significantly higher percentage of patients with adenocarcinoma (AC) (89.5% vs 54.2%, p = 0.02), usage of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) (100% vs 47.6%; p = 0.002), and usage of carboplatin, plus paclitaxel (100% vs 75%; p = 0.003) in the 41.4 Gy group. The pCR rate for the cohort was 44.2%. No differences in the pCR rate (41.7% vs 47.4%), three-year overall survival (OS) (73.7% vs 77.5%), or three-year PFS (52.8% vs 43.7%) were observed. Late toxicity rates also did not vary significantly (p = 0.2). No grade 4 or 5 events were observed.

Conclusion

In this small series, there were no differences in the pCR rate, PFS, or OS between those treated with 50.4 Gy and 41.4 Gy. Larger, multi-institutional series are needed to validate these findings.

Results of a Phase 1/2 Trial of Chemoradiotherapy With Simultaneous Integrated Boost of Radiotherapy Dose in Unresectable Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer

Importance

Effective treatment options for locally advanced esophageal cancer are limited, and rates of local recurrence after standard chemoradiotherapy remain high.

Objective

To evaluate toxic effects, local control, and overall survival rates after chemoradiotherapy with a simultaneous integrated boost of radiotherapy dose to the gross tumor and nodal disease for patients with unresectable locally advanced esophageal cancer.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A phase 1/2, single-arm trial was conducted in 46 patients from April 28, 2010, to April 9, 2015 (median follow-up, 52 months [range, 2-86 months]), at a tertiary academic cancer center. Outcomes of the study patients were compared with those of 97 similar patients treated at the same institution from January 10, 2010, to December 5, 2014, as part of the interim analysis. Statistical analysis was performed from December 15, 2018, to February 12, 2019.

Interventions

Chemoradiotherapy with a simultaneous integrated boost of radiotherapy dose (50.4 Gy to subclinical areas at risk and 63.0 Gy to the gross tumor and involved nodes, all given in 28 fractions) with concurrent docetaxel and capecitabine or fluorouracil.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Toxic effects, local (in-field) control, and overall survival rates.

Results

All 46 patients (11 women and 35 men; median age, 65.5 years [range, 37.3-84.4 years]) received per-protocol therapy, as intensity-modulated photon therapy (39 [85%]) or intensity-modulated proton therapy (7 [15%]); 11 patients (24%) ultimately underwent resection. No patients experienced grade 4 or 5 toxic effects; the 10 acute grade 3 toxic events were esophagitis (4), dysphagia (3), and anorexia (3) and the 3 late grade 3 toxic events were all esophageal strictures. The actuarial local recurrence rates were 22% (95% CI, 11%-35%) at 6 months, 30% (95% CI, 18%-44%) at 1 year, and 33% (95% CI, 20%-46%) at 2 years. Overall, 15 patients (33%) experienced local failure, at a median interval of 5 months (range, 1-24 months). The median overall survival time was 21.5 months (range, 2.3-86.4 months). Exploratory comparison with a 97-patient contemporaneous institutional cohort receiving standard-dose (non-simultaneous integrated boost) chemoradiotherapy showed superior local control (hazard ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.26-0.92; P = .03) and overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.47-0.94; P = .02) in the group that received chemoradiotherapy with a simultaneous integrated boost.

Conclusions and Relevance

These findings suggest that chemoradiotherapy with a simultaneous integrated boost of radiotherapy dose for locally advanced esophageal cancer is well tolerated, with encouraging local control, and thus warrants further study.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01102088.

Effect of SIB-IMRT-based selective dose escalation of local tumor on the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

To investigate the effect of SIB-IMRT-based selective dose escalation to local tumor on the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer (EC).

METHODS

A total of 302 EC patients were enrolled. The prognostic factors of the entire group were initially analyzed, and the composition ratios of the two groups and the different doses of each fraction for PTV were compared. The propensity-score matching (PSM) was carried out (1:1 ratio), and the prognostic factors for the two groups were analyzed according to the results of COX.

RESULTS

The median overall survival (OS) for all patients was 30.0 months (23.495-36.505 months), and the median disease-free survival (DFS) was 21.3 months (7.698-24.902 months). In multivariate analysis, chemotherapy, cTNM stage and dose-per-fraction for the PTV were independent prognostic factors for OS (P = 0.013, 0.000, 0.028) and DFS (P = 0.033, 0.000, 0.047). Multivariate analysis of patients after PSM revealed that cTNM staging and dose-per-fraction were the independent prognostic factors for OS (P = 0.000, 0.015). Chemotherapy, cTNM staging and dose-per-fraction for the PTV were the independent prognostic factors for DFS (P = 0.025, 0.010, 0.015). There was no significant difference in grade ≥ 2 acute toxicities between the two groups. A subgroup analysis of patients with a single dose of 2 Gy and > 2 Gy in the SIB-IMRT group showed that OS and DFS of the latter were significantly better than those of the former.

CONCLUSION

The selective dose escalation to local tumors based on SIB-IMRT technique can improve the survival of patients received radical radiotherapy without increasing toxicities.

Salvage Photodynamic Therapy Using Talaporfin Sodium for Local Failure of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background

Talaporfin sodium photodynamic therapy (TS-PDT) for local failure after chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma has recently been reported to be highly effective and less invasive, compared to other treatment modalities. TS-PDT was recently introduced at the Tottori University Hospital, Japan. The aim of this study is to clarify the efficacy and safety of PDT in our hospital.

Methods

This was a single-center observational study. We examined eight cases of TS-PDT performed between January 2016 and December 2019. The main endpoints were local complete remission (L-CR) rate and the adverse events. In addition, age, gender, histology, tumor location, TNM stage, tumor depth, irradiation dose, and overall survival (OS) were examined.

Results

The patients included 7 men and a woman, with an average age of 72.1 years (range 63-82 years). The baseline clinical stages before CRT or radiotherapy were stage I in 1, stage II in 3, stage III in 3, and stage IVA in 1 patient. The T stage on endoscopic assessment before TS-PDT was T1 in 6 patients and T2 in 2 patients. Treatment outcomes and adverse events were evaluated. There were no treatment-related deaths, and no significant adverse events occurred intraoperatively or postoperatively. The L-CR rate was 7/8 (87.5%); T1 cases had 100% (6/6) L-CR, while T2 cases had 50% (1/2). The 2-year OS rates were 87%.

Conclusion

TS-PDT was observed to be safe and effective in the first eight cases of its application following its introduction in our hospital.

Simultaneous integrated boost concepts in definitive radiation therapy for esophageal cancer: outcomes and toxicity

BACKGROUND

Radiation therapy and chemoradiation therapy play a major role in the definitive management of esophageal cancer. Survival in esophageal cancer patients is still relatively poor, mostly due to high rates of local recurrence and distant metastases. It is hypothesized that dose escalation in radiotherapy could improve outcomes. Therefore, this retrospective analysis aimed to investigate the outcomes and toxicity in patients treated with local dose escalation by means of using simultaneous integrated boost concepts.

METHODS

Between 2012 and 2018, 101 patients with esophageal carcinoma were analyzed in this monocentric, retrospective study. All patients received definitive chemoradiation or radiation therapy alone as intensity modulated radiotherapy. The prescribed dose was 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions to the primary tumor and the elective lymph nodes as well as a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) with 58.8 Gy to macroscopic tumor and lymph node metastases. Endpoints were overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), local control rate (LCR) and toxicity.

RESULTS

60 patients (59.4%) received chemoradiation, 41 patients (40.6%) radiotherapy alone. The median follow up was 17 months (range 0-75 months). OS, PFS and LCR were at 63.9%, 53.9% and 59.9% after 1 year and 37.6%, 34.5% and 36.1%, respectively after 3 years. 16 patients (15.8%) in total developed a locoregional recurrence within the field of radiation. In 48 patients (47.5%) at least one grade III° (CTCAE) toxicity was documented during radiotherapy, mostly dysphagia (36 pat., 75%). One patient suffered from a grade IV° pneumonia.

CONCLUSION

This retrospective analysis demonstrates that a SIB concept in definitive (chemo)radiation therapy is safe and feasible, showing acceptable outcomes in this patient cohort. Considering that this cohort mainly consists of elderly patients not eligible for chemotherapy in many cases, we emphasize the aspect of SIB radiation therapy as potential partial compensation for omitted simultaneous chemotherapy. Prospective studies are needed for validation.

Standard-dose versus high-dose radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy in esophageal cancer: A prospective randomized study

Objective:

The objective of this study is comparision of local and distant control rates with high-dose versus standard-dose radiotherapy along with concurrent chemotherapy in esophageal cancer – a prospective randomized study.

Materials and Methods:

Histologically proven Stage I–III patients with carcinoma esophagus were randomized into two groups. One group has been treated with standard-dose radiotherapy, i.e., a total dose of 50.4 Gy (1.8 Gy/day, 28#, 5 days/week). The other group (study arm) has received high-dose radiotherapy, i.e. a total dose of 64.8 Gy (1.8 Gy/day, 36#, 5 days/week). Both groups have received 2 cycles of 3 weekly concurrent chemotherapy (cisplatin 75 mg/m^[2] on day 1 and 5-fluorouracil 750 mg/m^[2] continuous intravenous infusion over 24 h on day 1–4). Follow-up response evaluation was done by both endoscopy and computed tomography scan after 6–8 weeks and after 2 months thereafter.

Results:

Out of a total of 28 patients, 68% showed a complete response, 14% showed partial response, and 18% patients developed progressive disease at first and subsequent follow up (median follow-up of 21 months). Among the complete response patients, rates were higher in high-dose group compared to standard-dose radiotherapy group (71% vs. 64%, P = 0.38). Treatment-related toxicities were acceptable in both groups.

Conclusion:

High-dose radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy seems to be more effective with acceptable toxicity in our study. However, further follow-up and large sample size may be required to validate the current study conclusion.

Dose escalation of 3D radiotherapy is effective for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a multicenter retrospective analysis (3JECROG R-03)

Background

To evaluate the impact of radiation dose escalation on overall survival (OS) in patients with non-metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated with radical radiotherapy.

Methods

The clinical data of ESCC patients treated with three-dimensional (3D) radiotherapy alone or chemoradiotherapy were collected from multiple institutes and retrospectively analyzed. Patients who received radiation dose ≥40 Gy were included. Radiation dose as a continuous variable was entered into the Cox regression model by using penalized spline regression to allow for a nonlinear relationship between radiation dose and OS to be identified. Patients were stratified into five groups according to EQD₂. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess the OS in different dose groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the factors associated with OS.

Results

A total of 2,469 patients were included from 10 institutes across China. The median follow-up time was 58.3 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 56.4–60.2 months]. The median OS and PFS time were 24.3 months (95% CI: 22.5–26.2 months) and 18.0 months (95% CI: 16.4–19.6 months), respectively. The risk of death decreased sharply with a dose up to 60 to 62 Gy, before increasing slightly after the dose was elevated beyond 62 Gy. Multivariate analysis indicated that the chance of death was significantly decreased in patients who received radiotherapy doses of 60–62 Gy [P=0.028, hazard ratio (HR) 0.85, 95% CI: 0.73–0.98)], compared with those who received radiotherapy doses of 40–60 Gy.

Conclusions

Our results reveal radiation dose is a significant prognostic factor of survival for ESCC patients. Higher radiation dose contributes to much more favorable survival outcomes for ESCC patients receiving radical radiotherapy by modern techniques, and 60 Gy or above might be the most optimal radiation dose.

Docetaxel and nedaplatin twice a week with concurrent definitive radiotherapy in inoperable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A phase I trial (GASTO-1021)

PURPOSE

This phase I trial aimed to determine the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of incorporating a twice-weekly docetaxel and nedaplatin regimen into definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) as radiosensitizers in patients with inoperable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS

The CCRT regimen included docetaxel (5 mg/m², 10 mg/m², or 15 mg/m²) and nedaplatin (5 mg/m², 10 mg/m², or 15 mg/m²) twice-weekly based on the traditional 3 + 3 dose escalation strategy, and radiotherapy (64 Gy in 32 fractions). The primary goals were to determine the MTD of concurrent chemotherapy and the dose limiting toxicities (DLTs). In-field objective response rate (ORR) was investigated.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients had been recruited and analyzed. DLT involving persistent grade 3 esophagitis over 1 week was observed in all three patients (3/3) at dose level 3 (15 mg/m²), and two patients (2/6) experienced DLTs in the dose level 2 (10 mg/m²) due to esophageal fistula and persistent grade 3 esophagitis over 1 week, while one patient (1/6) treated at dose level 1 (5 mg/m²) exhibited DLT owing to Grade 3 increased liver enzymes, suggesting a MTD of 5 mg/m². The in-filed ORR was both 100% in all patients and those receiving MTD. The 1-year loco-regional recurrence-free survival rate was 83.3%, 83.3% and 66.7% in dose level 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The MTD of twice-weekly docetaxel and nedaplatin regimen was 5 mg/m² in inoperable ESCC patients treated with definitive CCRT. Low dose concurrent docetaxel and nedaplatin showed promising radiosensitizing effect on in-filed disease control and good tolerability.

Stage III Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients With Three-Dimensional Conformal or Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

Aim: To evaluate long-term outcome and prognostic factors of stage III esophageal cancer after definitive radiotherapy using three dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) or intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) techniques.

Methods: Patients with T3N1M0/T4N0-1M0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated with definitive radiotherapy from 2002 to 2016 in 10 Chinese medical centers were retrospectively analyzed. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were calculated. Prognostic factors were analyzed by Log-rank test and multivariable Cox model.

Results: Survival data of 1,450 patients were retrospectively collected. With a median follow-up time of 65.9 months, 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 69.3, 36.7, and 27.7%, respectively, and PFS rates were 58.6, 32.7, and 27.4%, respectively. Univariable analyses showed that gender, age, lesion location, lesion length, largest tumor diameter, lymph node metastasis, gross tumor volume, EQD2, short-term response, and concurrent chemotherapy were prognostic factors for OS. Multivariable analyses showed that lesion location, T-classification, GTV size, EQD2, and short-term response to RT were independent prognostic factors for OS, and tumor diameter, GTV size, and short-term response were independent prognostic factors for PFS.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that definitive radiotherapy using 3DCRT and IMRT provides promising outcomes for locally advanced ESCC.

High vs. Low Radiation Dose of Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for Esophageal Carcinoma With Modern Radiotherapy Techniques: A Meta-Analysis

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical benefit of different radiation doses in concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for esophageal carcinoma using modern radiotherapy techniques. Methods: A systematic review was conducted by screening PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, SCOPUS, Wanfang, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases with prespecified searching strategy. Studies which compared high radiation dose group with low-dose radiation group using modern radiotherapy techniques for esophageal cancer patients in CCRT were identified. The hazard ratios (HR) for overall survival (OS) and the odds ratios (OR) for local-regional failure (LRF), distant metastasis (DM), and toxicities were considered as the outcomes of interest. R 3.6.2 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: Twelve studies involving 10,896 patients were included for analyses. The results showed that the high-dose group had better OS (HR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.70-0.90, P = 0.0004) and the local-regional control (OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.46-0.76, P < 0.0001), especially for patients who were diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The subgroup analyses further indicated that ≥ circa 60 Gy can significantly improve the OS (HR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.68-0.80, P < 0.0001) as well as the local-regional control (OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.40-0.74, P < 0.0001) as compared with < circa 60 Gy. Another subgroup analysis comparing ≤ 50.4 Gy with > 50.4 Gy showed no substantial difference in OS (HR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.93-1.03, P = 0.43). In addition, there are no significant differences between the two groups in grade 3-5 radiation pneumonitis (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.54-2.05, P = 0.89), grade 3-5 radiation esophagitis (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 0.93-2.11, P = 0.11), treatment-related death (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 0.70-3.66, P = 0.27), and DM (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 0.92-1.59, P = 0.17). Conclusions: For esophageal carcinoma receiving CCRT with modern radiation techniques, evidence suggested that high-dose radiotherapy, especially ≥circa 60 Gy, had potentials to improve the OS and local-regional control without increase in severe toxicities when compared with low-dose radiotherapy. The result needs to be confirmed by randomized clinical trials.

Esophageal brachytherapy: Institut Gustave Roussy's experience

PURPOSE

Esophageal cancer is characterized by its propension to local evolution, which conditions prognosis and quality of life. Brachytherapy may be a therapeutic option for all stages of esophageal cancer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

This retrospective unicentric study included all consecutive patients treated for an esophageal high-dose-rate brachytherapy in our institution from 1992 to 2018.

RESULTS

Ninety patients were included. They were treated in four distinct indications: exclusive (7 patients), boost after external beam radiotherapy (41), reirradiation (36), or palliative aim (6). Most frequently prescribed schemes were 3 × 5 Gy (boost) or 6 × 5 Gy (exclusive treatment and reirradiation) at applicator's surface or at 5 mm. At the end of follow-up, 50% of patients had presented with local recurrence. Seventeen percent of patients had a metastatic relapse. Median overall survival was 15 months in the whole cohort: 22 months in the boost setting, 25 months for exclusive brachytherapy, 15 months for reirradiation, and only 2 months for palliative treatment. Tumor length at brachytherapy, brachytherapy dose, and interfraction response were significantly associated to overall survival. 40% of patients presented with grade 2+ toxicity, mostly esophagitis, including three toxic deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

Although local control outcomes are still poor, one must remember that patients are unfit for any curative therapeutic option and that palliative chemotherapy offers mediocre results. The most promising setting probably is reirradiation because brachytherapy offers a remarkable dose gradient allowing best organ at risk sparing, with an encouraging rate of long survivors (19% at 2 years). Esophageal brachytherapy deserves to be further investigated because some patients, even unfit, may benefit from it, with acceptable toxicity.

Do Higher Radiation Doses with Concurrent Chemotherapy in the Definitive Treatment of Esophageal Cancer Improve Outcomes? A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

Background: To investigate the effects and safety profile of radiation dose escalation utilizing computerized tomography (CT) based radiotherapy techniques (including 3-Dimensional conformal radiotherapy, intensity-modulated radiotherapy and proton therapy) in the definitive treatment of patients with esophageal carcinoma (EC) with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (dCCRT). Methods: All relevant studies utilizing CT-based radiation planning, comparing high-dose (≥ 60 Gy) versus standard-dose (50.4 Gy) radiation for patients with EC were analyzed for this meta-analysis. Results: Eleven studies including 4946 patients met the inclusion criteria, with 96.5% of patients diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The high-dose group demonstrated a significant improvement in local-regional failure (LRF) (OR 2.199, 95% CI 1.487-3.253; P<0.001), two-year local-regional control (LRC) (OR 0.478, 95% CI 0.309-0.740; P=0.001), two-year overall survival (OS) (HR 0.744, 95% CI 0.657-0.843; P<0.001) and five-year OS (HR 0.683, 95% CI 0.561-0.831; P<0.001) rates relative to the standard-dose group. In addition, there was no difference in grade ≥ 3 radiation-related toxicities and treatment-related deaths between the groups. Conclusion: Under the premise of controlling the rate of toxicities, doses of ≥ 60 Gy in CT-based dCCRT of ESCC patients might improve locoregional control and ultimate survival compared to the standard-dose dCCRT. While our review supports a dose-escalation approach in these patients, multiple ongoing randomized trial initial and final reports are awaited to evaluate the effectiveness of this strategy.

The Prognostic Significance of Metastatic Nodal Size in Non-surgical Patients With Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: The present study aimed to determine the prognostic value of the size of metastatic lymph node (LN) in non-surgical patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods: Three hundred seventy-six ESCC patients treated with definitive (chemo-) radiotherapy from January 2013 to March 2016 were reviewed. We analyzed potential associations of metastatic nodal size with responses, patterns of failure, and survival. Log-rank testing and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the impact of the clinical factors on survival.

Results: The 3-years over survival (OS) rates following a median follow-up of 28.2 months were 53.2, 46.2, 35.5, and 22.7% for the N0 group, the >0.5 to ≤1 cm group, the >1 to ≤2 cm group, and the >2 cm group, respectively. The progression-free survival (PFS) rates for 2 years were 50.9, 44.2, 26.6, and 23.4% for the N0 group, the >0.5 to ≤1 cm group, the >1 to ≤2 cm group, and the >2 cm group, respectively. The objective response rates (ORR) for the 280 patients with metastatic LNs were 43.1% for the LN >0.5 to ≤1 cm group, 46.9% for the LN >1 to ≤2 cm group, and 25.5% for the LN ≥2 cm group. The LN >2 cm group had the worst ORR of the three groups with LNs. Gross tumor volume (GTV) failure was the most common failure pattern, followed by distant failure and out of GTV LN failure, with incidences of 47.9% (180 of 376), 42% (158 of 376), and 13.8% (52 of 376), respectively. Nodal size correlated statistically with GTV failure and distant failure but not with out-of-GTV nodal failure. After adjusting for age, sex, T category, Primary tumor location, and CRT, the size of metastatic LNs was an independent prognostic factor for OS and PFS in multivariate analyses.

Conclusions: Nodal size is one of prognostic factors for non-surgical patients with ESCC and correlated statistically with GTV failure and distant failure.

Tolerance and efficacy of dose escalation using IMRT combined with chemotherapy for unresectable esophageal carcinoma: Long-term results of 51 patients

PURPOSE

The optimal dose in esophageal cancer patients treated with definitive chemoradiation (CRT) remains debated. We herein report on the dosimetric results, treatment-related toxicities and long-term outcomes of escalated dose up to 60Gy delivered with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All consecutive patients that received a definitive CRT>50Gy for an unresectable esophageal carcinoma between 2010 and 2015 were retrospectively evaluated for this study. Methodology included data base search, delayed toxicity grading, statistical testing including frequency analysis and survival analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 51 patients were irradiated for a squamous cell carcinoma (86.3%) or an adenocarcinoma (13.7%). The median age at diagnosis was 62 years. Seven patients were simultaneously irradiated for another synchronous primary tumor. Forty-six patients (90.2%) received concurrent platin-based chemotherapy. The median prescribed doses were 60Gy (54-66) and 48Gy (44.8-56) delivered in 30 (27-35) fractions to the high and the low risks PTV respectively. The mean dose delivered to the lungs was 11.4Gy (IC 95%: 4.8-19.8), the median volumes receiving up to 20Gy (V20) and 30Gy (V30) were 13.5% (3.0-46.0) and 4.6% (0.7-19.8) respectively. The mean dose delivered to the heart was 13.9Gy (IC 95%:0.3-31.3) with a median V40 of 3.3% (0.0-25.0). One treatment-related death occurred within days after RT completion (neutropenic aplasia). After a median follow-up of 2.7 years (95% CI: 1.9-4.3), the 2-year overall survival, disease free survival and loco-regional control rates were 53.6%, 42.0% and 72.8% respectively. Delayed treatment related-toxicities ≤grade 3 occurred among 25 patients (62.5%) mostly esophageal stricture (79.2%).

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated in this study that dose escalation using IMRT in combination with platin-based chemotherapy as a definitive treatment for esophageal carcinoma is safe and results in higher loco-regional and control survival when compared to previously reported data.

Analyzing the impact of neoadjuvant radiation dose on pathologic response and survival outcomes in esophageal and gastroesophageal cancers

Background

The optimal neoadjuvant radiation therapy (RT) dose prior to esophagectomy is unknown. We compared patients receiving lower-dose RT (LD-RT) of 41.4-45 Gy versus those receiving higher-dose RT (HD-RT) of 50-54 Gy.

Methods

Patients with non-metastatic esophageal or gastroesophageal cancer diagnosed from 2004 to 2015 who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) followed by esophagectomy were identified using the National Cancer Database (NCDB) and divided into LD-RT and HD-RT groups. Logistic regression was used to evaluate predictors of HD-RT utilization and propensity score matching. Overall survival (OS) was compared between HD-RT and LD-RT groups using Cox regression. Logistic regression was performed with respect to pathologic complete response (pCR), positive surgical margins, postoperative mortality, and readmission rates.

Results

We identified 7,996 patients meeting inclusion criteria, of which 5,732 (71.7%) received HD-RT. At median follow-up of 3.3 years, 3-year OS was 48.7% for HD-RT versus 48.4% for LD-RT (P=0.734). pCR rates were 20.3% with HD-RT versus 16.3% with LD-RT [odds ratio (OR) 1.24; 95% CI: 1.06-1.44; P=0.006]. There were no statistically significant differences between HD-RT and LD-RT with respect to positive margins, 90-day postoperative mortality, or readmission rates. In a separate analysis of patients treated with CRT alone and no subsequent esophagectomy, HD-RT was associated with improved OS (HR 0.83; 95% CI: 0.78-0.88; P<0.001).

Conclusions

Our analysis suggests that 41.4-45 and 50-54 Gy dose regimens are similar in survival and postoperative outcomes. However, in cases of equivocal resectability, a higher RT dose of 50-54 Gy may be preferred.

Clinical Results of Proton Beam Therapy for Esophageal Cancer: Multicenter Retrospective Study in Japan

There are few reports about the clinical results of proton beam therapy for esophageal cancer in a large population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of proton beam therapy for esophageal cancer in a large population using a multicentered database. Between January 2009 and December 2013, patients newly diagnosed with esophageal cancer and who had received proton beam therapy were retrospectively recruited from a database of four proton beam therapy centers in Japan. Two hundred and two patients (including 90 inoperable patients) fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and 100 patients (49.5%) had stage III/IV cancer (Union for International Cancer Control 8th). The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rate was 66.7% and 56.3%, respectively. The five-year local control rate was 64.4%. There were two patients with grade three pericardial effusion (1%) and a patient with grade three pneumonia (0.5%). No grade 4 or higher cardiopulmonary toxicities were observed (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0). This study suggests that proton beam therapy for esophageal cancer was not inferior in efficacy and had lower rates of toxicities in comparison to photon radiotherapy. Therefore, proton beam therapy can serve as an alternate treatment for patients with esophageal cancer.

Quality Assurance of Dose-Escalated Radiation Therapy in a Randomized Trial for Locally Advanced Oesophageal cancer

PURPOSE

The ongoing phase 2/3 PRODIGE 26/CONCORDE trial compares chemoradiation therapy with and without dose escalation in patients with locally advanced or unresectable esophageal cancer. The results of a benchmark case procedure are reported here to evaluate the protocol compliance of participating centers as part of quality assurance for radiation therapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Volume delineation, target coverage, and dose constraints to the organs at risk (OARs) were assessed on treatment plans of a common benchmark case performed by each participating center. The centers were classified in 3 categories: per protocol, minor acceptable deviation (MiD), or major unacceptable deviation (MaD). A plan was rejected if ≥4 MiDs or 1 MaD were found.

RESULTS

Thirty-5 centers submitted 43 plans. Among them, 14 (32.6%) were per protocol, 19 (44.2%) presented at least 1 MiD, 2 (4.6%) presented at least 1 MaD, and 8 (18.6%) presented both MiD and MaD. Overall, 11 (25.6%) plans were rejected. Only 1 plan was rejected because gross tumor volume was not correctly delineated. The OAR delineation was respected in all cases. Dose constraints to the OARs were respected in the majority of cases except for the heart, where one-third of the plans presented a deviation. As for the target volume, 3 plans (5.8%) had a major underdosage and 1 plan (1.9%) had a major overdosage. Overall, 58% of all treatments were planned with intensity modulated radiation therapy, whereas 42% were planned with 3-dimensional chemoradiation therapy. Significantly more plans in the intensity modulated radiation therapy group were accepted compared with the 3-dimensional chemoradiation therapy group (P = .03).

CONCLUSION

The high frequency of protocol deviations underlines the importance of a quality assurance program in clinical trials. Further work should assess the impact of quality assurance for radiation therapy on patient outcomes.

Early metabolic response to chemoradiotherapy by interim FDG PET/CT is associated with better overall survival and histological response in esophageal cancers

BACKGROUND

Early assessment of response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is crucial in determining the most suitable treatment strategy in locally advanced oesophageal cancer (LAEC).

AIMS

We evaluated the impact of early metabolic response during CRT on overall survival (OS) and histological response.

METHODS

Patients with biopsy-proven oesophageal carcinoma underwent FDG PET/CT with evaluation of the standardized uptake value (SUV) before any treatment and during CRT after 20 Gy.

RESULTS

116 patients (Male: 66.4%, Median age: 63; squamous cell carcinomas (SCC): 70%) met inclusion criteria. Median OS was 21.7 months. There was a significant positive correlation between interim metabolic response and OS. In multivariate analysis, only metabolic response using the 50% cut-off value remained significantly associated with OS (IC95% = 0.28-0.73; p = 0.001). In this statistical analysis, surgery (p = 0.007) and T stage (p = 0.023) were also correlated with OS. There was a significant correlation between early metabolic response and local recurrence (Chi-squared test p = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Early metabolic response using FDG PET/CT is associated with better OS, disease-free survival, local control and pathological response in patients treated by CRT for LAEC.

High-dose versus standard-dose radiation therapy for cervical esophageal cancer: Retrospective single-institution study

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the role of definitive radiotherapy using higher-than-standard-dose radiation of 50 Gy for carcinoma of the cervical esophagus (CCE).

METHODS

We reviewed 79 patients with stage I-III CCE, treated between 2000 and 2012. Patients received 5-fluorouracil/cisplatin-based chemotherapy concurrently and were divided into high-dose (≥59.4 Gy, n = 44) and standard-dose (<59.4 Gy, n = 35) groups.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 35 months for surviving patients. The high-dose group had significantly better 3-year local (90.0% vs 60.4%, P = .001) and locoregional (70.4% vs 45.3%, P = .04) control. Progression-free (45.4% vs 37.5%, P = .32) and overall (58.4% vs 49.1%, P = .69) survival rates were not different. High-dose radiation was an independent prognostic factor for locoregional control (P = .04). No differences in late toxicities (esophageal stenosis or tracheoesophageal fistula) were observed.

CONCLUSION

High-dose radiation for CCE improves local and locoregional control, without increasing severe toxicities.

Dose-escalated radiotherapy improved survival for esophageal cancer patients with a clinical complete response after standard-dose radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy

Purpose

For esophageal cancer patients with a clinical complete response (cCR) after standard-dose radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy, data on the survival outcomes and recurrence patterns remain scarce. To evaluate the impact of dose escalation on overall survival for this subset of patients, we carried out the current investigation.

Materials and methods

Medical records of 80 esophageal cancer patients with a cCR after standard-dose radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy at our center from 2010 to 2014 were allocated into the standard-dose group (50.4 Gy, observation group) or the radiation dose-escalation group (59.4 Gy, control group). In this cohort study, we compared the outcomes between the 2 groups.

Results

There were no differences in patient characteristics between the 2 groups. The median recurrence-free survival and overall survival times for all patients were 38 and 54 months, respectively. Patients in the control group had significantly better 5-year recurrence-free survival rate (12% vs 0%, p=0.019) and 5-year overall survival rate (42.8% vs 21.0%, p=0.028) than the observation group. Additionally, local control rate was significantly higher in the control group (p=0.04), and ~60% of treatment failures were local failures even for patients achieving cCR after chemoradiotherapy. There were no significant differences in treatment-related toxicities between the groups.

Conclusion

The results of the current study suggest that for esophageal cancer patients with a cCR after standard-dose radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy, those with dose-escalated radiotherapy showed significantly better local control, recurrence-free survival, and overall survival than patients receiving 50.4 Gy radiotherapy.

Comparative study of concomitant chemoradiation versus concomitant chemoradiation followed by high-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy in locally advanced esophageal carcinoma: a single institutional study

Purpose

The aim of this study is to compare efficacy and toxicity between concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by high-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) and CCRT in inoperable, locally advanced esophageal carcinoma.

Material and methods

Thirty-four patients with inoperable, locally advanced esophageal carcinoma were randomized into two arms. In the CCRT + ILBT arm (arm A), eighteen patients received 50.4 Gy at 1.8 Gy per fraction over 5.6 weeks, along with concurrent cisplatin (75 mg/m²) intravenously on day 1, and 5-fluorouracil (1000 mg/m²) continuous intravenous infusion on days 1-5, starting on the first day of irradiation and repeated after 28 days. This was followed by ILBT boost with a dose of 10 Gy in 2 fractions, one week apart. In the CCRT arm (arm B), sixteen patients received two cycles of chemotherapy, using the same schedule, along with external beam radiotherapy fractionated in a similar manner without brachytherapy boost. The endpoints were tumor response, acute and late toxicities, disease and progression-free survival.

Results

With a median follow-up of 13 months, the complete response rate was 88.89% in arm A and 87.50% in arm B (p = 0.71). Acute esophageal toxicity was higher in CCRT followed by ILBT arm (p = 0.60). There was no significant difference between the Kaplan Meier survival plots of disease-free survival (p = 0.68) and progression-free survival (p = 0.55).

Conclusions

In our study, addition of brachytherapy as a boost following concurrent chemoradiation failed to improve treatment outcomes without additional toxicity in locally advanced esophageal cancer.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy for cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: treatment results from a prospective observational study

A prospective observational study was performed to evaluate the results of treatment with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in patients with cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (CESCC). Patients had CESCC, no distant metastasis, were 18-75 years old, and had PS 0-2. Radiotherapy (RT) was administered as either three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with a total dose of 60 Gy/30 fractions. All patients were treated with platinum-based doublet concurrent chemotherapeutic regimens. CCRT was followed by 2-3 cycles of consolidation chemotherapy. The endpoints were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), toxicities, and failure patterns. Ninety-two patients were enrolled from March 2007 to July 2014. The median follow-up time was 34 months. For all patients, the 3-year OS was 49.8% (median OS: 36 months, 95% CI: 24.963-47.051), and the 3-year PFS was 42.1%, (median PFS: 25 months, 95% CI: 17.097-32.903). Treatment failures occurred in 54 patients, including 30 cases (32.6%) with locoregional failure alone, 14 cases (15.2%) with distant metastasis alone, and 10 cases (10.9%) with both locoregional failure and distant metastasis. There were 51 (55.4%) and 3 cases (3.3%) of grade 3 and grade 5 radiation esophagitis, respectively. One patient (1%) had grade 5 laryngeal edema. Overall, CCRT has tolerable acute toxicities, and this regimen is an option for the treatment of patients with CESCC.

Advances in radiotherapy for esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer is a common type of malignancy worldwide and usually requires multidisciplinary care. Radiotherapy plays an important part in management of the disease. During the past few years, researchers have made much progress about radiotherapy for esophageal cancer, which was revealed in every aspect of clinical practice. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy remains the standard treatment for locally advanced esophageal cancer, whereas neoadjuvant chemotherapy appears to show less toxicities and non-inferior prognosis. What's more, definitive chemoradiotherapy could be an option for non-surgical candidates and good responders to chemoradiotherapy. Advances in radiation techniques result in higher conformity, homogeneity, more normal tissue sparing and less treatment time. Promising prognoses and less toxicities were also seen in advanced techniques. As radiation dose higher than 50 Gy obtains better local control and survival, simultaneously integrated boost is designed to increase primary tumor dosage and keep prophylactic dose to subclinical areas. Elective nodal irradiation brings about better local control but do not show advantages in survival compared with involved field irradiation (IFI). As a trend, more tolerable chemoradiotherapy regimen would be taken into account in dealing with elderly patients.

Synchronous Supraglottic and Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas Treated with a Monoisocentric Hybrid Intensity-Modulated Radiation Technique

Risk factors for squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the head and neck (HN) and esophagus are similar. As such, synchronous primary tumors in these areas are not entirely uncommon. Definitive chemoradiation (CRT) is standard care for locally advanced HNSCC and is a preferred option for inoperable esophageal SCC. Simultaneous treatment of both primaries with CRT can present technical challenges. We report a case of synchronous supraglottic and esophageal SCC primary tumors, highlighting treatment with a monoisocentric hybrid radiation technique and normal tissue toxicity considerations.

Radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma: dose, response and survival

Esophageal cancer (EC) is an extremely aggressive, lethal malignancy that is increasing in incidence worldwide. At present, definitive chemoradiotherapy is accepted as the standard treatment for locally advanced EC. The EC guidelines recommend a radiation dose of 50.4 Gy for definitive treatment, yet the outcomes for patients who have received standard-dose radiotherapy remain unsatisfactory. However, some studies indicate that a higher radiation dose could improve local tumor control, and may also confer survival benefits. Some studies, however, suggest that high-dose radiotherapy does not bring survival benefit. The available data show that most failures occurred in the gross target volume (especially in the primary tumor) after definitive chemoradiation. Based on those studies, we hypothesize that at least for some patients, more intense local therapy may lead to better local control and survival. The aim of this review is to evaluate the radiation dose, fractionation strategies, and predictive factors of response to therapy in functional imaging for definitive chemoradiotherapy in esophageal carcinoma, with an emphasis on seeking the predictive model of response to CRT and trying to individualize the radiation dose for EC patients.

Radiation dose escalation by simultaneous modulated accelerated radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy for esophageal cancer: a phase II study

The outcomes for patients with esophageal cancer (EC) underwent standard-dose radical radiotherapy were still disappointing. This phase II study investigated the feasibility, safety and efficacy of radiation dose escalation using simultaneous modulated accelerated radiotherapy (SMART) combined with chemotherapy in 60 EC patients. Radiotherapy consisted of 66Gy at 2.2 Gy/fraction to the gross tumor and 54Gy at 1.8 Gy/fraction to subclinical diseases simultaneously. Chemotherapy including cisplatin and 5fluorouracil were administered to all patients during and after radiotherapy. The data showed that the majority of patients (98.3%) completed the whole course of radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy. The most common ≥ grade 3 acute toxicities were neutropenia (16.7%), followed by esophagitis (6.7%) and thrombopenia (5.0%). With a median follow-up of 24 months (5-38) for all patients and 30 months (18-38) for those still alive, 11 patients (18.3%) developed ≥ Grade 3 late toxicities and 2 (3.3%) of them died subsequently due to esophageal hemorrhage. The 1- and 2-year local-regional control, distant metastasis-free survival, disease-free survival and overall survival rates were 87.6% and 78.6%, 86.0% and 80.5%, 75.6% and 64.4%, 86.7% and 72.7%, respectively. SMART combined with concurrent chemotherapy is feasible in EC patients with tolerable acute toxicities. They showed a trend of significant improvements in local-regional control and overall survival. Further follow-up is needed to evaluate the late toxicities.

What is the optimal radiation dose for non-operable esophageal cancer? Dissecting the evidence in a meta-analysis

The standard radiation dose 50.4 Gy with concurrent chemotherapy for localized inoperable esophageal cancer as supported by INT-0123 trail is now being challenged since a radiation dose above 50 Gy has been successfully administered with an observable dose-response relationship and insignificant untoward effects. Therefore, to ascertain the treatment benefits of different radiation doses, we performed a meta-analysis with 18 relative publications. According to our findings, a dose between 50 and 70 Gy appears optimal and patients who received ≥ 60 Gy radiation had a significantly better prognosis (pooled HR = 0.78, P = 0.004) as compared with < 60 Gy, especially in Asian countries (pooled HR = 0.75, P = 0.003). However, contradictory results of treatment benefit for ≥ 60 Gy were observed in two studies from Western countries, and the pooled treatment benefit of ≥ 60 Gy radiation was inconclusive (pooled HR = 0.86, P = 0.64). There was a marginal benefit in locoregional control in those treated with high dose (> 50.4/51 Gy) radiation when compared with those treated with low dose (≤ 50.4/51 Gy) radiation (pooled OR = 0.71, P = 0.06). Patients that received ≥ 60 Gy radiation had better locoregional control (OR = 0.29, P = 0.001), and for distant metastasis control, neither the > 50.4 Gy nor the ≥ 60 Gy treated group had any treatment benefit as compared to the groups that received ≤ 50.4 Gy and < 60 Gy group respectively. Taken together, a dose range of 50 to 70 Gy radiation with CCRT is recommended for non-operable EC patients. A dose of ≥ 60 Gy appears to be better in improving overall survival and locoregional control, especially in Asian countries, while the benefit of ≥ 60 Gy radiation in Western countries still remains controversial.

Improved survival with higher radiation dose for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy

Purpose

The optimal radiation dose for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has long been debated. We undertook the retrospective study to evaluate the survival impact of high dose vs standard dose in patients with stage II–III esophageal cancer treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Results

A total of 137 patients were included in our study, 63 patients classified as standard-dose group and 74 as high-dose group. For the 63 patients in the standard-dose group, the median PFS and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year PFS rates were 12.6 months, 58.0%, 26.0% and 12.0%, respectively; for the 74 patients in the high-dose group, they were 20.0 months, 80.1%, 31.0% and 20.0%, respectively (P = 0.013). The median OS of the patients in the standard-dose group and high-dose group groups were 19.0 months and 26.6 months, respectively, and the 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates were 78.0%, 39.0%, and 24.0% , and 89.0%, 61.0%, and 30.0%, respectively (P = 0.037). Besides the rate of grade ≥ 3 acute irradiation esophagitis in the high-dose group (10.5% versus. 2.2%, P < 0.01), there were no significantly differ of treatment-related toxicities between the two groups.

Materials and Methods

According to the radiation dose, patients from 2010 to 2014 were allocated into either the standard-dose group (50–50.4 Gy) or the high-dose group (≥ 59.4 Gy). Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and treatment-related toxicities were assessed and compared between the two groups.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that higher radiation dose could perform better outcomes for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients.

Clinical evaluation of palliative chemoradiotherapy for metastatic esophageal cancer

Platinum-based chemotherapy is considered a standard treatment option for patients with metastatic esophageal carcinoma. However, the overall survival of patients receiving such treatment is <1 year. A common presenting symptom of esophageal cancer is dysphagia, which has a substantial impact on quality of life. We have now retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of palliative chemoradiotherapy for patients with stage IV esophageal cancer, most of whom are unfit for curative chemoradiotherapy. Fifty consecutive patients diagnosed with stage IV esophageal cancer were treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy at Kindai University Hospital between April 2008 and December 2014. Most (90%) patients received a total radiation dose of at least 50 Gy, and the median number of treatment cycles per patient was four for the combination of 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin. The response of the primary tumor and the overall response were 80% and 44%, respectively. The dysphagia score was improved after chemoradiotherapy in 36 (72%) patients and did not change between before and after treatment in 14 (28%) patients. With a median follow-up time of 9.4 months from the start of chemoradiotherapy, the median progression-free survival and overall survival were 4.7 and 12.3 months, respectively. Three patients (T4b in two, T3 in one) developed esophagobronchial fistula after completion of chemoradiotherapy (n = 2) or after disease progression (n = 1), resulting in death in each case. Our results suggest that palliative chemoradioiotherapy was safe and contributed the improvement of dysphagia in patients with stage IV esophageal cancer.

Dose escalation of definitive radiation is not associated with improved survival for cervical esophageal cancer: a National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) analysis

For cervical esophageal cancer (CEC), National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines support RT to 50-50.4 Gy with chemotherapy but acknowledge higher doses may be appropriate. This study uses the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to characterize RT practices and identify if a dose-response relationship exists for overall survival (OS) for definitive treatment of CEC. We queried the NCDB for patients diagnosed with Stage I-III CEC from 2004 to 2013, and selected patients receiving definitive RT with doses between 50 and 74 Gy. Using multivariate logistic regression, the database was analyzed to determine factors associated with use of RT > 50.4 Gy. Patients were then stratified into three dose categories. Predictors of OS were analyzed with univariate and multivariate methods using the Kaplan-Meier curves, the log-rank test, and the Cox proportional hazards analysis. We stratified 789 patients with CEC who were treated with definitive radiation ± chemotherapy: 50-50.4 Gy ('standard'), >50.4 and <66 Gy ('medium'), and 66-74 Gy ('high'). Of these patients, 215 (27%) received standard doses, 375 (48%) received medium doses, and 199 (25%) received high doses. Patients with Medicaid insurance and those with Stage II disease were less likely (P < 0.05) to receive >50.4 Gy. Sex, histology, distance to treatment facility, and academic/community facility type were not significantly associated with receipt of >50.4 Gy. There was no association between dose and OS for the medium or high groups when using univariate analysis or analysis adjusted for demographic, facility, and clinical attributes. Stage III disease and the Charlson-Deyo scores of 1 or 2 were associated with higher mortality (P < 0.05), while female sex and use of chemotherapy were associated with lower mortality (P < 0.01). Nearly three-fourths of CEC patients in the United States are treated with RT > 50.4 Gy. Higher radiation doses were not associated with increased OS in CEC patients in the NCDB.

Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer

The treatment of locally advanced esophageal cancer is controversial. For patients who are candidates for surgical resection, multiple prospective clinical trials have demonstrated the advantages of neoadjuvant chemoradiation. For patients who are medically inoperable, definitive chemoradiation is an alternative approach with survival rates comparable to trimodality therapy. Although trials of dose escalation are ongoing, the standard radiation dose remains 50.4 Gy. Modern radiotherapy techniques such as image-guided radiation therapy with motion management and intensity-modulated radiation therapy are strongly encouraged with a planning objective to maximize conformity to the intended target volume while reducing dose delivered to uninvolved normal tissues.

Radiation field size and dose determine oncologic outcome in esophageal cancer

Background

Locoregional recurrence is a major problem in esophageal cancer patients treated with definitive concomitant chemoradiotherapy. Approximately half of the patients fail locoregionally. We analyzed the impact of enlarged radiation field size and higher radiation dose incorporated to chemoradiotherapy on oncologic outcome.

Methods

Seventy-four consecutive patients with histologically proven nonmetastatic squamous or adenocarcinoma of the esophagus were included in this retrospective analysis. All patients were locally advanced cT3–T4 and/or cN0-1. Treatment consisted of either definitive concomitant chemoradiotherapy (Def-CRT) (n = 49, 66 %) or preoperative concomitant chemoradiotherapy (Pre-CRT) followed by surgical resection (n = 25, 34 %). Patients were treated with longer radiation fields. Clinical target volume (CTV) was obtained by giving 8–10 cm margins to the craniocaudal borders of gross tumor volume (GTV) instead of 4–5 cm globally accepted margins, and some patients in Def-CRT group received radiation doses higher than 50 Gy.

Results

Isolated locoregional recurrences were observed in 9 out of 49 patients (18 %) in the Def-CRT group and in 1 out of 25 patients (3.8 %) in the Pre-CRT group (p = 0.15). The 5-year survival rate was 59 % in the Def-CRT group and 50 % in the Pre-CRT group (p = 0.72). Radiation dose was important in the Def-CRT group. Patients treated with >50 Gy (11 out of 49 patients) had better survival with respect to patients treated with 50 Gy (38 out of 49 patients). Five-year survivals were 91 and 50 %, respectively (p = 0.013).

Conclusions

Radiation treatment planning by enlarged radiation fields in esophageal cancer decreases locoregional recurrences considerably with respect to the results reported in the literature by standard radiation fields (18 vs >50 %). Radiation dose is as important as radiation field size; patients in the Def-CRT group treated with ≥50 Gy had better survival in comparison to patients treated with 50 Gy.

Dose-Response Relationship between Radiation Dose and Loco-regional Control in Patients with Stage II-III Esophageal Cancer Treated with Definitive Chemoradiotherapy

PURPOSE

The correlation between radiation dose and loco-regional control (LRC) was evaluated in patients with stage II-III esophageal cancer treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medical records of 236 stage II-III esophageal cancer patients treated with definitive CRT at Yonsei Cancer Center between 1994 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Among these, 120 received a radiation dose of < 60 Gy (standard-dose group), while 116 received ≥ 60 Gy (high-dose group). The median doses of radiation in the standard- and high-dose groups were 50.4 and 63 Gy, respectively. Concurrent 5-fluorouracil/cisplatin chemotherapy was administered to most patients.

RESULTS

There were no differences in patient characteristics between the two groups except for high Karnofsky performance status and lower-thoracic lesions being more prevalent in the standard-dose group. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) times were 13.2 months and 26.2 months, respectively. Patients in the high-dose group had significantly better 2-year LRC (69.1% vs. 50.3%, p=0.002), median PFS (16.7 months vs. 11.7 months, p=0.029), and median OS (35.1 months vs. 22.3 months, p=0.043). Additionally, LRC exhibited a dose-response relationship and the complete response rate was significantly higher in the high-dose group (p=0.006). There were no significant differences in treatment-related toxicities between the groups.

CONCLUSION

A higher radiation dose (> 60 Gy) is associated with increased LRC, PFS, and OS in patients with stage II-III esophageal cancer treated with definitive CRT.

Radiation Dose Escalation in Esophageal Cancer Revisited: A Contemporary Analysis of the National Cancer Data Base, 2004 to 2012

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effect of radiation dose escalation on overall survival (OS) for patients with nonmetastatic esophageal cancer treated with concurrent radiation and chemotherapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Patients diagnosed with stage I to III esophageal cancer treated from 2004 to 2012 were identified from the National Cancer Data Base. Patients who received concurrent radiation and chemotherapy with radiation doses of ≥50 Gy and did not undergo surgery were included. OS was compared using Cox proportional hazards regression and propensity score matching.

RESULTS

A total of 6854 patients were included; 3821 (55.7%) received 50 to 50.4 Gy and 3033 (44.3%) received doses >50.4 Gy. Univariate analysis revealed no significant difference in OS between patients receiving 50 to 50.4 Gy and those receiving >50.4 Gy (P=.53). The dose analysis, binned as 50 to 50.4, 51 to 54, 55 to 60, and >60 Gy, revealed no appreciable difference in OS within any group compared with 50 to 50.4 Gy. Subgroup analyses investigating the effect of dose escalation by histologic type and in the setting of intensity modulated radiation therapy also failed to reveal a benefit. Propensity score matching confirmed the absence of a statistically significant difference in OS among the dose levels. The factors associated with improved OS on multivariable analysis included female sex, lower Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score, private insurance, cervical/upper esophagus location, squamous cell histologic type, lower T stage, and node-negative status (P<.01 for all analyses).

CONCLUSIONS

In this large national cohort, dose escalation >50.4 Gy did not result in improved OS among patients with stage I to III esophageal cancer treated with definitive concurrent radiation and chemotherapy. These data suggest that despite advanced contemporary treatment techniques, OS for patients with esophageal cancer remains unaltered by escalation of radiation dose >50.4 Gy, consistent with the results of the INT-0123 trial. Furthermore, these data highlight that many radiation oncologists have not embraced the concept that dose escalation does not improve OS. Although local control, not investigated in the present study, might benefit from dose escalation, novel therapies are needed to improve the OS of patients with esophageal cancer.

Gross tumor volume is the prognostic factor for squamous cell esophageal cancer patients treated with definitive radiotherapy

BACKGROUND

To investigate whether gross tumor volume (GTV) defined on radiotherapy planning scans a prognostic factor for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients treated with definitive radiotherapy.

METHODS

From 2008 to 2011, 187 ESCC patients who were treated with definitive radio(chemo)therapy were analyzed retrospectively. Tumor volumes such as GTV, gross tumor volume of primary esophageal cancer (GTV-P), and gross tumor volume of metastases lymph nodes (GTV-N) were computed by Philips Healthcare radiation therapy planning system (Pinnacle 8.0). Kaplan-Meier cumulative probability and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the effect of the clinical factors along with tumor volume on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

In the univariate analysis, fraction dose, TNM stage, total radiation dose, GTV, GTV-P, and GTV-N were all significantly associated with both OS and PFS (P<0.05). While in multivariate analysis, GTV and fraction dose were significantly associated with both OS and PFS (adjusted P<0.05) with adjustment for age, sex, smoking status, chemotherapy, fraction dose, GTV, and radiation dose.

CONCLUSIONS

GTV may serve as a good prognostic factor for ESCC patients treated with definitive radiotherapy. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.

Does higher radiation dose lead to better outcome for non-operated localized esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy? A population based propensity-score matched analysis

BACKGROUND

The optimal radiotherapy dose for non-operated localized esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (NOL-ESCC) patients undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is hotly debated.

METHODS

We identified eligible patients diagnosed within 2008-2013 from Taiwan Cancer Registry and constructed a propensity score matched cohort (1:1 for high dose (⩾60Gy) vs standard dose (50-50.4Gy)) to balance observable potential confounders. We compared the hazard ratio (HR) of death between standard and high radiotherapy dose groups during the entire follow-up period. We performed sensitivity analysis (SA) to evaluate the robustness of our finding regarding potential unobserved confounders & index date definition.

RESULTS

Our study population constituted 648 patients with well balance in observed co-variables. The HR of death when high dose was compared to standard dose was 0.75 (95% confidence interval 0.64-0.88). Our result was sensitive to potential unobserved confounders but robust to alternative index date definition in SA.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that higher than standard radiotherapy dose may lead to better survival for NOL-ESCC patients undergoing CCRT.