Phase I study of concurrent selective lymph node late course accelerated hyper-fractionated radiotherapy and pemetrexed, cisplatin for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Concurrent Selective Lymph Node Radiotherapy and S-1 Plus Cisplatin for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Phase II Study

BACKGROUND

The efficacy, toxicity, and patterns of failure of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated with selective lymph node (SLN) conventional fraction radiotherapy (CFRT) and S-1 plus cisplatin (CDDP) were evaluated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

67 Patients with clinical stage II-IVa ESCC were enrolled. The total dose of SLN CFRT was 60 Gy in 30 fractions over 6 weeks. The first course of radiation covered the primary and metastatic regional tumors and high-risk lymph nodal regions, given at 2 Gy/fraction for a dose of 40 Gy. In the second course, CFRT was delivered to the boost volume for an additional 20 Gy in 10 days, using 2 Gy/fraction. Two cycles of chemotherapy were given at the beginning of radiotherapy. CDDP at 25 mg/m²/day was given on days 1-3 and days 22-24, and S-1 at 80 mg/m²/day on days 1-14 and days 22-35. Patients achieving objective response after concurrent chemoradiotherapy underwent two additional cycles of chemotherapy.

RESULTS

The objective response rate (ORR) was 82.5%. Grade 3 or 4 toxicities included leukopenia (23.8%), neutropenia (14.3%), thrombocytopenia (14.3%), hemoglobin (4.8%), gastrointestinal (12.7%), skin (1.6%), and esophagus fistula (1.6%). One patient died of severe pneumonia, and two died of late toxicity because of esophagus fistula. With median follow-up of 32 months, the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) at 1 year and 2 years were 81.0% and 73.0%, and 63.5% and 49.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

SLN RT concurrent with S-1 plus CDDP may represent a better strategy for treatment of ESCC patients.

Radiation Pneumonitis after Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy for Esophageal Cancer: Institutional Data and a Systematic Review

Radiation pneumonitis (RP) is a serious complication that can occur after thoracic radiotherapy. The goal of this study is to investigate the incidence of RP after radiochemotherapy with intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in patients with esophageal cancer and correlate this with dose volume histogram (DVH) related parameters. For this purpose, the clinical course of 73 patients was evaluated and irradiation doses to the lungs were extracted from radiotherapy treatment plans. Furthermore, a systematic review on this topic was conducted across PubMed. In our institutional cohort, Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade II or higher RP occurred in four patients (5.5%). The systematic review identified 493 titles of which 19 studies reporting 874 patients qualified for the final analysis. No grade IV or V RP after radiochemotherapy with IMRT for esophageal cancer was reported in the screened literature. Grade II or higher RP is reported in 6.6% of the patients. A higher incidence can be seen with increasing values for lung V20. In conclusion, our institutional data and the literature consistently show a low incidence of symptomatic RP after radiochemotherapy in patients with esophageal cancer treated with IMRT. However, efforts should be made to keep the lung V20 below 23% and specific caution is warranted in patients with pre-existing lung conditions.

Cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy with 5-fluorouracil or pemetrexed in patients with locally advanced, unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A retrospective analysis

Treatment with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin (PF regimen) remains the most frequently used chemotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed/cisplatin (PP regimen) as definitive treatment compared with PF. A total of 60 patients with locally advanced, unresectable SCC of the esophagus receiving concomitant chemoradiotherapy were recruited in this study; of those patients, 29 received four cycles (two concomitant and two post-radiotherapy) of the PF regimen (arm A, cisplatin 25 mg/m²/day i.v. on days 1-3 plus 5-FU 800 mg/m²/24 h by continuous infusion on days 1-5) and 31 received four cycles of the PP regimen (arm B, cisplatin 25 mg/m²/day i.v. on days 1-3 plus pemetrexed 500 mg/m² on day 1). All the patients in both arms received a total radiation dose of 59.6 Gy. The two arms were well-matched for age, gender, Karnofsky performance status, TNM stage, tumor location and length. The overall response rate was 89.7% in arm A vs. 93.5% in arm B (P>0.05). The median overall survival was 26.1 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 15.3-36.8 months] in arm A vs. 28.7 months (95% CI: 9.4-48.0 months) in arm B (P>0.05). Severe esophagitis occurred in 31.0% (9/29) of the patients in arm A vs. 12.9% (4/31) of the patients in arm B; the difference was statistically significant (P=0.036). Grade 3/4 leukopenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 4 (13.8%) and 1 (3.4%) patients, respectively, in arm A vs. 12 (38.7%) and 6 (19.4%) patients, respectively, in arm B; the differences were statistically significant (P=0.029 and 0.041, respectively). Therefore, chemoradiotherapy with the PP regimen achieved therapeutic results comparable with those of the PF regimen; in terms of toxicity, the incidence of hematological toxicity was higher and that of esophagitis was lower with the PP regimen.

Phase I study of concurrent selective lymph node late-course accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy and S-1 plus cisplatin for locally advanced oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

This Phase I study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of concurrent selective lymph node (SLN) late-course accelerated hyperfractionated (LCAF) intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and S-1 plus cisplatin (CDDP) for the locally advanced oesophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS

The total dose of SLN LCAF IMRT was 59.6 Gy/34 fractions in 5.4 weeks. The concurrent chemotherapy (CCRT) was administered as follows: CDDP 25 mg m(-2) on Days 1-3 and Days 22-24; S-1 was applied in a de-escalating dosage with a decrement of 10 mg m(-2) per day, from its full dose level of 80 mg m(-2), orally twice daily on Days 1-14 and Days 22-35. We inferred the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) and recommended dose, according to adverse reaction during CCRT.

RESULTS

Totally, 15 patients with ESCC with T2-4N0-1M0-1a were enrolled in Dose Level 1 (80 mg m(-2)). In the initial five patients, two patients developed DLTs. As MTD was not reached, five additional patients were treated with the same dose level, and DLTs occurred in only one patient. Similar results were found in the last five patients. After CCRT, the objective response rates were 100% for primary tumours and 86.2% for metastatic lymph nodes, respectively. Totally, the observed Grade 3 toxicities during CCRT were leukopenia (20%), neutropenia (20%) and dermatitis (13.3%), and no Grade 4 toxicity occurred. The Kaplan-Meier-estimated overall and progression survival rates were 86.7% and 66.7% (1 year), 73.3% and 60% (2 years) and 73.3% and 60% (3 years).

CONCLUSION

The concurrent SLN LCAF IMRT and chemotherapy with S-1 and CDDP was well tolerated and showed promising efficacy. The dose of S-1 in this regimen was recommended with 80 mg m(-2) orally twice daily on Days 1-14 and Days 22-35.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

CCRT with S-1 plus CDDP exhibited encouraging results with milder toxicities, high objective response rates and ideal overall survival time.

Cetuximab plus pemetrexed as second-line therapy for fluorouracil-based pre-treated metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of cetuximab and pemetrexed as the second-line treatment for advanced esophageal cancer patients, who had undergone treatment with the standard cisplatin and 5-FU regimens.

METHODS

A total of 29 patients accepted this treatment. Cetuximab was administered at an initial dose of 400 mg/m(2) IV followed by weekly doses of 250 mg/m(2) IV, whereas pemetrexed 500 mg/m(2) was administered on day 1 every 3 weeks.

RESULTS

Twelve patients (41.4 %) presented PR, ten (34.5 %) had SD, and seven (24.1 %) had PD. The response rate was 41.4 %. The median PFS was 4.5 months (95 % CI 4.1-4.9), and the median OS was 9.4 months (95 % CI 8.4-10.5). The expression levels of serum miR-335 were determined, and the subsequent analysis suggested that PFS was significantly different between the patients with higher level of serum miR-335 and those with low level of serum miR-335. The former had a PFS of 4.9 months (95 % CI 4.2-5.7) and the latter 4.1 months (95 % CI 3.7-4.5) (log rank = 0.025). None of the patients experienced grade 4 toxicity. Twenty-four patients presented rash.

CONCLUSIONS

A combination of cetuximab plus pemetrexed was marginally effective and well tolerated in patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma as the second-line treatment.

Phase II study of concurrent selective lymph node late course accelerated hyper-fractionated radiotherapy and pemetrexed and cisplatin for locally advanced oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

To determine the clinical efficacy and toxicity of pemetrexed combined with low-dose cisplatin (CDDP) concurrent with late-course accelerated hyperfractionated (LCAF) intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients with inoperable locally advanced oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS

Patients with locally advanced ESCC (less than or equal to 75 years of age, clinical stages IIB-IVA and Karnofsky performance status ≥70) were enrolled into the study. A target group size of 22 was projected based on the estimation that 2-year overall survival (OS) would increase from 20% to 40%. Patients were treated with pemetrexed, low-dose CDDP and LCAF IMRT concurrently. The main objective of the study was for a 2-year OS, and the secondary objectives were progression-free survival (PFS), objective response, locoregional failure rate, and acute and late toxicities.

RESULTS

25 patients were recruited from October 2008 to July 2011. The median OS was 21 months, with 2- and 5-year OS rates of 44% and 44%, respectively. The median PFS was 18.2 months. The objective response rate was 96% (24/25), with 11 complete responses and 13 partial responses. The locoregional failure rate was 16%. Grades 4 and 5 acute toxicity rates were 8% and 4%, respectively, while no Grade 3 or greater late toxicity was observed.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this Phase II study indicated that the therapeutic regimen appears to achieve an excellent response rate and favourable survival for locally advanced ESCC. However, the severe acute side effects should be considered cautiously in further studies.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

To our knowledge, this is the first study that introduced pemetrexed and low-dose CDDP combined with LCAF IMRT to treat locally advanced ESCC. The 5-year OS rate was as high as 44%, which was more favourable than other studies.

Elective lymph node irradiation late course accelerated hyper-fractionated radiotherapy plus concurrent cisplatin-based chemotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a phase II study

BACKGROUND

In this phase II study, we evaluated the efficacy, toxicity, and patterns of failure of elective lymph node irradiation (ENI) late course accelerated hyper-fractionated radiotherapy (LCAHRT) concurrently with cisplatin-based chemotherapy (CHT) for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS

Patients with clinical stage II-IVa (T1-4N0-1M0 or M1a) ESCC were enrolled between 2004 and 2011. Radiation therapy (RT) comprised two courses: The first course of radiation covered the primary and metastatic regional tumors and high risk lymph nodal regions, given at 2 Gy per fraction for a dose of 40 Gy. In the second course, LCAHRT was delivered to the boost volume twice a day for an additional 19.6 Gy in 7 treatment days, using 1.4 Gy per fraction. Two cycles of CHT were given at the beginning of RT.

RESULTS

The median age and Karnofsky performance status were 63 years and 80, respectively. The American Joint Committee on Cancer stage was II in 14 (20.6%) patients, III in 32 (47.1%), and IVa in 22 (32.3%). With a median follow-up of 18.5 months, the overall survival at 1-, 3-, 5-year were 75.5%, 46.5%, 22.7% for whole group patients, versus 78.6%, 49.4%, 39.9% for patients with stage II-III. The patterns of first failure from local recurrence, regional failure, and distant metastasis were seen in 20.6%, 17.6%, and 19.1%, respectively. The most frequent acute high-grade (≥ 3) toxicities were esophagitis and leucopenia, occurred in 26.4% and 32.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

ENI LCAHRT concurrently with CHT was appeared to be an effective regimen for ESCC patient with a favorable and tolerated profile. Further observation with longer time and randomized phase III trial is currently underway.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR-TRC-09000568.