Application of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy in curative surgery for esophageal cancer:A metaanalysis

BACKGROUND The effectiveness of neoadjuvant therapy in esophageal cancer(EC)treatment is still a subject of debate.AIM To compare the clinical efficacy and toxic side effects between neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy(nCRT)and neoadjuvant chemotherapy(nCT)for locally advanced EC(LAEC).METHODS A comprehensive search was conducted using multiple databases,including PubMed,EMBASE,MEDLINE,Science Direct,The Cochrane Library,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wanfang Database,Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database,and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database Article.Studies up to December 2022 comparing nCRT and nCT in patients with EC were selected.RESULTS The analysis revealed significant differences between nCRT and nCT in terms of disease-free survival.The results indicated that nCRT provided better outcomes in terms of the 3-year overall survival rate(OSR)[odds ratio(OR)=0.95],complete response rate(OR=3.15),and R0 clearance rate(CR)(OR=2.25).However,nCT demonstrated a better 5-year OSR(OR=1.02)than nCRT.Moreover,when compared to nCRT,nCT showed reduced risks of cardiac complications(OR=1.15)and pulmonary complications(OR=1.30).CONCLUSION Overall,both nCRT and nCT were effective in terms of survival outcomes for LAEC.However,nCT exhibited better performance in terms of postoperative complications.

Multidisciplinary approach for patients with esophageal cancer

Patients with esophageal cancer have a poor prognosis because they often have no symptoms until their disease is advanced. There are no screening recommendations for patients unless they have Barrett's esophagitis or a significant family history of this disease. Often, esophageal cancer is not diagnosed until patients present with dysphagia, odynophagia, anemia or weight loss. When symptoms occur, the stage is often stage Ⅲ or greater. Treatment of patients with very early stage disease is fairly straight forward using only local treatment with surgical resection or endoscopic mucosal resection. The treatment of patients who have locally advanced esophageal cancer is more complex and controversial. Despite multiple trials, treatment recommendations are still unclear due to conflicting data. Sadly, much of our data is difficult to interpret due to many of the trials done have included very heterogeneous groups of patients both histologically as well as anatomically. Additionally, studies have been underpowered or stopped early due to poor accrual. In the United States, concurrent chemoradiotherapy prior to surgical resection has been accepted by many as standard of care in the locally advanced patient. Patients who have metastatic disease are treated palliatively. The aim of this article is to describe the multidisciplinary approach used by an established team at a single high volume center for esophageal cancer, and to review the literature which guides our treatment recommendations.

Effect of Goal-Directed Fluid Therapy on Lung Function, Cognitive Function and Inflammatory Response in Patients Undergoing Radical Esophageal Cancer Surgery under One-Lung Ventilation

Objective: To explore the effects of goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) on lung function, cognitive function and inflammatory response in patients undergoing radical esophageal cancer surgery under one-lung ventilation. Methods: Sixty-seven patients undergoing radical esophageal cancer surgery were divided into GDFT group (GDFT therapy) and control group (conventional liquid therapy). The changes in patients’ pulmonary function, cognitive function and inflammatory response were evaluated. Results: Both alveolar-arterial oxygen partial pressure difference [P(A-a)O2] and respiratory index (RI) increased at one-lung ventilation for 30 minutes (T2) and decreased at one-lung ventilation for 60 minutes (T3), and after surgery (T4) in the two groups, and the GDFT group was lower than the control group (P < 0.05);theoxygenation index (OI) of the two groups decreased at T2, T3, and T4 compared with that at T1 (before one-lung ventilation), and the GDFT group was higher than the control group (P < 0.05). At T4 and T5, the tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), central nervous system specific protein (S100β), and neuron specific enolase (NSE) in the GDFT group were lower compared to the control group (P < 0.05), while interleukin-10 (IL-10) was higher compared to the control group (P < 0.05);the incidence of perioperative neurocognitive disorder (PND) in the GDFT group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: GDFT can help prevent lung injury during radical esophageal cancer surgery under one-lung ventilation, reduce the body’s inflammatory response, and reduce the incidence of perioperative cognitive disorder to a certain extent.