Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy plus surgery in the treatment of potentially resectable thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUNDIn recent years, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) combined with surgeryhas been gradually applied in patients with locally advanced thoracic esophagealcancer, but its effectiveness and safety remains unclear. In this clinical trial, weprospectively investigated the efficacy and safety of NCRT plus surgery in thetreatment of thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (TESCC).AIMTo investigate the efficacy and safety of NCRT combined with surgery in thetreatment of potentially resectable TESCC.METHODSThirty patients with advanced TESCC hospitalized in our hospital from July2016 to June 2019 were prospectively studied. All patients received NCRT, whichincluded intensity modulated conformal radiotherapy (40-44 Gy/20-22f, 2 Gy/f)and chemotherapy (paclitaxel 150-175 mg/m2d1, 22 + lobaplatin 25-30 mg/m2d2,23 for two cycles). Surgery was performed after radiotherapy and chemotherapy.The effectiveness and safety of these treatments were observed.RESULTSAmong these 30 patients, complete response was achieved in two cases (6.7%) andpartial response in 26 cases (86.7%), yielding an objective response rate of 100%.All patients underwent radical surgery successfully. The R0 resection rate was100%, and the pathologic complete response rate was 33.3%. The incidence ofgrade III- IV granulocytopenia was 10% during the NCRT, and anastomoticleakage occurred in one patient after surgery.CONCLUSIONFor patients with potentially resectable TESCC, NCRT can effectively reduce thetumor size, increase R0 resection rate, and achieve obvious pathologicaldegradation, with mild adverse reactions. Thus, it is worthy of wider clinicalapplication.