Salvage photodynamic therapy for persistent esophageal cancer after chemoradiation therapy

Salvage esophagectomy for local recurrent esophageal cancer after definitive chemoradiotherapy followed by photodynamic therapy: A case report

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We report a case of esophageal cancer treated with PDT followed by esophagectomy.

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We assessed the PDT effect on adjacent tissues based on surgery and pathology.

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PDT can cause intense inflammation in tissues adjacent to the tumor.

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The location should be considered when performing salvage esophagectomy after PDT.

Introduction

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is performed as a salvage treatment for patients with residual or recurrent esophageal cancer after chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Although PDT is considered less invasive than salvage surgery, it is unclear how deep its effects are and whether it causes damage to adjacent tissues. Herein, we report a case of esophageal cancer treated with PDT followed by esophagectomy. In this case, we evaluated the effect of PDT on adjacent tissues based on surgical and pathological examination.

Presentation of case

A 58-year-old man with dysphagia was diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC; T1N0M0, Stage I) in the upper thoracic esophagus. He underwent definitive CRT with two courses of 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin every 4 weeks with 60 Gy of radiation. Twelve months after CRT, endoscopic examination revealed local recurrence, and PDT using talaporfin sodium was performed. The tumor recurred again 6 months after PDT, and robot-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy was performed as a definitive treatment. Tissues around the left side of the esophagus and thoracic duct were tightly adherent with severe fibrosis and were successfully removed by extended resection. Histopathological examinations showed that the esophageal wall and peri-esophageal tissue were replaced by fibrous tissue and this extended even beyond the tumor.

Discussion

The primary tumor was limited to the submucosal layer, and the target for irradiation had some longitudinal margins. Therefore, PDT can cause intense inflammation in tissues adjacent to the tumor.

Conclusions

It is necessary to consider the location when performing salvage esophagectomy after PDT.

Systematic review and meta-analysis on the significance of salvage esophagectomy for persistent or recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after definitive chemoradiotherapy

The therapeutic strategy to be recommended in case of recurrent or persistent squamous cell esophageal cancer after completed definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) has to be documented. Salvage esophagectomy has traditionally been recognized as a viable option, but many clinicians oppose the use of surgery due to the associated excessive morbidity and mortality. 'Second-line' chemoradiotherapy (CRT) without surgery may offer a treatment alternative in these difficult and demanding clinical situations. Until now, no comprehensive attempt has been carried out to compare the respective therapeutic options. A systematic literature search was performed focusing on studies comparing survival and treatment-related mortality in patients submitted to salvage esophagectomy or second-line CRT for recurrent or persistent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after dCRT. Hazard ratios and risk ratios were calculated to compare the effect of these therapeutic strategies on overall survival and treatment-related mortality, respectively. Four studies containing 219 patients, with persistent or recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after dCRT, were included in the meta-analysis. The analysis revealed an overall survival benefit following salvage esophagectomy with a pooled hazard ratio for death of 0.42 (95% confidence interval 0.21-0.86, P = 0.017) compared with second-line CRT. A treatment-related mortality of 10.3% was recorded in the 36 patients who were submitted to salvage esophagectomy, while it was impossible to perform a meta-analysis comparing treatment-related mortality between the groups. Salvage esophagectomy offers significant gain in long-term survival compared with second-line CRT, although the surgery is potentially at a price of a high treatment-related mortality.

Prognostic factors for salvage endoscopic resection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Endoscopic resection is one treatment option for residual or locally recurrent esophageal cancer after definitive chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone. However, little is known about the clinical benefit of salvage endoscopic resection for these lesions. Therefore, the effectiveness and prognostic factors of salvage endoscopic resection were investigated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 37 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) who underwent salvage endoscopic resection after definitive chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone were reviewed. The method of salvage endoscopic resection was endoscopic mucosal resection using a cap (EMR-C), strip biopsy, or endoscopic submucosal dissection. The effectiveness and prognostic factors of salvage endoscopic resection were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 37 patients with 49 lesions underwent salvage endoscopic resection. Baseline clinical stages were I in 23 patients, II in 3 patients, III in 9 patients, and IV in 2 patients. The number of locoregional recurrences and residual lesions were 35 and 14, respectively. The curative en bloc resection rate was 53.1 % (26/49). The total incidence of complications was 18.9 % (7/37); all were successfully managed conservatively. The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 72.9 % and 53.3 %, respectively, with a median follow-up period of 54 months. Baseline clinical T1 - 2 and N0 were significant factors for good prognosis in terms of overall survival on univariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Salvage endoscopic resection, especially EMR-C, is a safe and feasible procedure to control residual or recurrent superficial esophageal SCC after definitive chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone. The present results showed that baseline clinical T1 - 2 and N0 before chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy were significant prognostic factors.

Endoscopic management of esophageal cancer after definitive chemoradiotherapy

BACKGROUND

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is a potentially curative non-surgical option for locally advanced esophageal cancer, with pathological complete response (CR) ranging from 13 to 49 %. The rate of persistent and recurrent disease within the esophagus remains high at 40-60 %, and treatment of these tumors may improve disease-free survival. The aim of this review is to assess the efficacy of salvage endoscopic therapies for recurrent esophageal cancer.

METHODS

Medline and Embase were searched for relevant studies published in the English-language literature that reported use of endoscopic modalities, including photodynamic therapy (PDT), endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), and spray cryotherapy, as salvage therapies for esophageal cancer.

RESULTS

A total of 12 studies were identified. In small case series of PDT, CR varied from 20 to 100 %, with 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates of 65-80, 34-47, and 36 %, respectively. Data from three studies of EMR in squamous cell cancer show CR in 50 % of cases, with 3- and 5-year overall survival of 56-81 and 49 %, respectively. Endoscopic spray cryotherapy has recently been used in this setting with an observed CR of 37.5 %.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic salvage therapies are options for those patients with disease limited to the superficial esophageal wall and those who are unfit to undergo salvage esophagectomy. Widespread application of endoscopic salvage therapies is limited by the lack of awareness and guidelines for endoscopic surveillance post-CRT and limited data on the effectiveness of endoscopic therapies.

The safety and effectiveness of endoscopic and non-endoscopic approaches to the management of early esophageal cancer: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Traditionally, management of early cancer (stages 0-IIA) has comprised esophagectomy, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Recent efforts to improve outcomes and minimize side-effects have focussed on minimally invasive, endoscopic treatments that remove lesions while sparing healthy tissue. This review assesses their safety and efficacy/effectiveness relative to traditional, non-endoscopic treatments for early esophageal cancer.

METHODS

A systematic review of peer-reviewed studies was performed using Cochrane guidelines. Bibliographic databases searched to identify relevant English language studies published in the last 3 years included: PubMed (i.e., MEDLINE and additional sources), EMBASE, CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, the UK Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (NHS EED, DARE and HTA) databases, EconLit and Web of Science. Web sites of professional associations, relevant cancer organizations, clinical practice guidelines, and clinical trials were also searched. Two independent reviewers selected, critically appraised, and extracted information from studies.

RESULTS

The review included 75 studies spanning 3124 patients and 10 forms of treatment. Most studies were of short term duration and non-comparative. Adverse events reported across studies of endoscopic techniques were similar and less significant compared to those in the studies of non-endoscopic techniques. Complete response rates were slightly lower for photodynamic therapy (PDT) relative to the other endoscopic techniques, possibly due to differences in patient populations across studies. No studies compared overall or cause-specific survival in patients who received endoscopic treatments vs. those who received non-endoscopic treatments.

DISCUSSION

Based on findings from this review, there is no single "best practice" approach to the treatment of early esophageal cancer.

Photodynamic therapy combined with local chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced esophagocardiac carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective palliative treatment for gastrointestinal tumors. The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate the efficacy of PDT combined with local chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced esophagocardiac cancer.

METHODS

A total of 140 patients with advanced esophagocardiac cancer were divided into two groups: 42 treated with PDT alone and 98 with combination of PDT and local injection of 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu). The light irradiation was carried out through a diffuser fiber at 24 and 48h after intravenous injection of a domestic photosensitizer PSD-007 (Photocarcinorin, 3-5mg/kg b.w.) at 200-400J/cm under endoscope guidance. Local chemotherapy group was carried out by local injection of 5-Fu (250-500mg) prior to PDT. Treatment was repeated 1-4 times. Short-term and long-term follow up were evaluated.

RESULTS

Short-term efficacy evaluation showed that the rate of significant remission in PDT combined with local chemotherapy group (41.8%) was significantly higher than that in PDT alone group (21.4%, P<0.05). Long-term follow up (up to 36 months) showed that the mean survival time of combined treatment group was longer than that of PDT group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

PDT is safe and effective for advanced esophagocardiac cancer. Its therapeutic effect can be further improved when combined with local chemotherapy.

Endoluminal therapy for Barrett's esophagus

This article reviews methods to minimize the complications associated with endoscopic therapy for patients with Barrett's esophagus. To place this discussion in context, the natural history of Barrett's esophagus and the risks associated with progression to dysplasia and invasive carcinoma are reviewed. Operative esophageal resection traditionally is recommended for patients with Barrett's high-grade dysplasia and early carcinoma, and these surgical risks also are reviewed. Finally, all currently approved and commercially available methods for endoscopic ablation and resection of Barrett's disease are categorized according to their application methods of ablation: focal ablation, field ablation, and mucosal resection. The clinical experience with these devices is reviewed with their associated adverse events and complications. Caveats, concerns, and recommendations are discussed to help minimize the complications associated with the use of these important technologies that hold the promise of removing or destroying Barrett's disease to prevent the development of invasive carcinoma.