Bing-Yen Wang1, Wei-Heng Hung2, Shiao-Chi Wu3, Heng-Chung Chen2, Chang-Lun Huang2, Ching-Hsiung Lin4, Hui-Shan Chen5. 1. Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Institute of Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan; Center for General Education, Ming Dao University, Changhua, Taiwan; PhD Program in Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan. 2. Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan. 3. Institute of Health and Welfare Policy, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan. 5. Department of Health Care Administration, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan City, Taiwan. Electronic address: 156283@cch.org.tw.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study compared survival between definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and esophagectomy alone among patients with locoregional esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). METHODS: Data were obtained from the Taiwan Cancer Registry between 2008 and 2014. Included were 5,487 patients with clinical I, II, or III esophageal SCC who received definitive CRT or esophagectomy alone. Patients were stratified according to clinical stage. Overall survival was compared between patients treated with definitive CRT versus esophagectomy alone, and between patients in the three different clinical stages. Propensity-matched analysis along with univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. RESULTS: Treatment was with definitive CRT in 4,251 patients (77.50%) and esophagectomy alone in 1,236 (22.50%). Propensity score matching produced 1,020 patients for comparison. The overall survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 60.92%, 34.96%, and 26.14%, respectively, for propensity-matched patients treated with definitive CRT and were 71.15%, 56.50%, and 46.17%, respectively, for propensity-matched patients treated with esophagectomy alone (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed treatment strategy was an independent prognostic factor. Esophagectomy alone was associated with significantly better overall survival than definitive CRT for patients with clinical stage I/II disease. There was no survival risk difference between definitive CRT and esophagectomy only for patients with clinical stage III disease. CONCLUSIONS: Esophagectomy alone could provide better survival than definitive CRT for patients with clinical stage I/II esophageal SCC. However, definitive CRT and esophagectomy yield similar overall survival rates in clinical stage III patients.
BACKGROUND: This study compared survival between definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and esophagectomy alone among patients with locoregional esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). METHODS: Data were obtained from the Taiwan Cancer Registry between 2008 and 2014. Included were 5,487 patients with clinical I, II, or III esophageal SCC who received definitive CRT or esophagectomy alone. Patients were stratified according to clinical stage. Overall survival was compared between patients treated with definitive CRT versus esophagectomy alone, and between patients in the three different clinical stages. Propensity-matched analysis along with univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. RESULTS: Treatment was with definitive CRT in 4,251 patients (77.50%) and esophagectomy alone in 1,236 (22.50%). Propensity score matching produced 1,020 patients for comparison. The overall survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 60.92%, 34.96%, and 26.14%, respectively, for propensity-matched patients treated with definitive CRT and were 71.15%, 56.50%, and 46.17%, respectively, for propensity-matched patients treated with esophagectomy alone (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed treatment strategy was an independent prognostic factor. Esophagectomy alone was associated with significantly better overall survival than definitive CRT for patients with clinical stage I/II disease. There was no survival risk difference between definitive CRT and esophagectomy only for patients with clinical stage III disease. CONCLUSIONS: Esophagectomy alone could provide better survival than definitive CRT for patients with clinical stage I/II esophageal SCC. However, definitive CRT and esophagectomy yield similar overall survival rates in clinical stage III patients.