Intensified Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Patients with Potentially Resectable Esophageal Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Patterns of recurrent disease after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and esophageal cancer surgery with curative intent in a tertiary referral center

BACKGROUND

Recurrence is frequently observed after esophageal cancer surgery, with dismal post-recurrence survival. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by esophagectomy is the gold standard for resectable esophageal tumors in the Netherlands. This study investigated the recurrence patterns and survival after multimodal therapy.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included patients with recurrent disease after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by esophagectomy for an esophageal adenocarcinoma in the Amsterdam UMC between 01 and 01-2010 and 31-12-2018. Post-recurrence treatment and survival of patients were investigated and grouped by recurrence site (loco-regional, distant, or combined loco-regional and distant).

RESULTS

In total, 278 of 618 patients (45.0%) developed recurrent disease after a median of 49 weeks. Thirty-one patients had loco-regional (11.2%), 145 distant (52.2%), and 101 combined loco-regional and distant recurrences (36.3%). Post-recurrence survival was superior for patients with loco-regional recurrences (33 weeks, 95%CI 7.3-58.7) compared to distant (12 weeks, 95%CI 6.9-17.1) or combined loco-regional and distant recurrent disease (18 weeks, 95%CI 9.3-26.7). Patients with loco-regional recurrences treated with curative intent had the longest survival (87 weeks, 95%CI 6.9-167.4).

CONCLUSION

Recurrent disease after potentially curative treatment for esophageal cancer was most frequently located distantly, with dismal prognosis. A subgroup of patients with loco-regional recurrence was treated with curative intent and had prolonged survival. These patients may benefit from intensive surveillance protocols, and more research is needed to identify these patients.

Efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in surgically resectable esophageal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy for patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer (EC) has developed rapidly in recent years. The efficacy and safety outcomes may change the recommended neoadjuvant therapeutic regimens for patients with EC.

METHODS

Systematic screening for articles focusing on the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in locally advanced and surgically resectable EC was performed using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and international tumor congresses. Meta-analysis of non-comparative binary outcomes was carried out to combine the main results. The pooled results were compared with the traditional neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT) and chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) using direct comparative analysis. The results were expressed as the risk ratio (RR).

RESULTS

A total of 20 articles with 621 patients were included in the present study. The pooled pathological complete response and major pathological response rates were 33.8% (95% CI: 29.6%-37.9%) and 53.5% (95% CI: 47.9%-59%), respectively, in the neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy (nICT) group and 39.8% (95% CI: 27%-53.9%) and 88.8% (95% CI: 64.8%-97.2%) in the neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemoradiotherapy (nICRT) group, respectively. In addition, the pooled grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) rate was 19.4% (95% CI: 11.5%-31.5%) in the nICT group. The results of direct comparison showed that compared with nCRT and nICRT, nICT could improve safety while achieving comparable efficacy. The results of subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis and publication bias evaluation indicated that the above findings were stable and reliable.

CONCLUSION

The current meta-analysis revealed that neoadjuvant immunotherapy in patients with locally advanced EC was safe and effective and nICT could be used as the recommended neoadjuvant therapeutic option for patients with EC. However, additional studies are urgently needed to reveal the long-term outcomes of neoadjuvant immunotherapy.

Prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma undergoing surgery versus no surgery after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: a retrospective cohort study

Background

Esophageal surgery is an invasive surgical method with high surgical risk, and seriously affects postoperative quality of life. This study compared the prognosis of patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (Neo-CRT) plus surgery and Neo-CRT alone, in order to explore the necessity of continuing operation after Neo-CRT.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 223 patients who received Neo-CRT in Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University from June 2007 to December 2014. According to the treatment, the patients were divided into Neo-CRT plus surgery group (operation group, n=185) and single Neo-CRT group (non-operation group, n=38). Patients in both groups were followed up for a long time until death or deadline. The overall survival (OS), adverse reactions, recurrence and death results of the two groups were evaluated. The risk factors of poor prognosis were analyzed.

Results

The two groups were comparable. The median follow-up time was 23.5 months in non-operation group and 112.9 months in operation group. The 1-year survival rate, 2-year survival rate and 5-year survival rate in non-operation group were 69.9%, 47.7% and 31.8%, respectively. The rates in operation group were 94.0%, 79.3% and 65.0%, respectively. The incidence of low hemoglobin was 73.7% (non-operation group) and 53.0% (operation group). The infection rates were 15.8% and 2.7%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the incidence of leukopenia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia between the two groups. Multivariate analysis showed that recurrence and treatment were independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients.

Conclusions

To sum up, no matter in terms of recurrence rate or OS rate, the prognosis of patients in the operation group was better than that in the non-operation group. Therefore, Neo-CRT combined with esophagectomy is recommended for locally advanced ESCC with acceptable surgical risk.