Original Article


Clinical results of multimodality therapy for esophageal cancer with distant metastasis

Masakuni Sakaguchi, Toshiya Maebayashi, Takuya Aizawa, Naoya Ishibashi, Tsutomu Saito

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate outcomes in upfront local response and survival of patients with esophageal cancer and distant metastasis.
Methods: This retrospective study included 34 patients (25 males) aged 42–92 years (median, 70 years) with a histological diagnosis of esophageal squamous cell cancer with distant metastasis. Staging was performed according to the UICC’s TNM (6th edition) classification of malignant tumor.
Results: The median survival time (MST) was 5 months. The 1-year overall survival (OS) was 20.6%. Improved OS was associated with receipt of surgery [hazard ratio (HR), 3.857; 95% CI, 1.142–13.024; P=0.030] on both univariate and multivariate analyses, and the MST was 11 months. The overall objective local response rate was 82%. Ten patients had complete response (CR), 18 had partial response (PR). The overall symptom response was 88% patients. Six had CR, 24 had PR. There was no significant difference in the objective and symptom response between ≤50 and >50 Gy. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) with 50 Gy gave results of objective and symptom responses comparable to those of 60 Gy, which has been reported previously.
Conclusions: CCRT with 50 Gy gave results comparable to those of 60 Gy, which has been reported previously, and the toxicity was acceptable. Our findings showed that a multimodality therapy that includes surgery may improve survival in only a select group.

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