[Outcome of Patients with Pathological Complete Response after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Advanced Esophageal Cancer]

Abstract

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC)has been proven to have survival benefit for patients with resectable advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC). Among a total of 208 patients with ESCC who underwent radical surgery following NAC between March 2000 and January 2017, 6 patients achieved histologically complete response. Before NAC, the average major axis length of the tumor was 57 mm, and the clinical stages were Stage II (2 patients)and Stage III (4 patients). FP therapy(cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil)was administered to 4 patients, and DCF therapy(docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil) to 2 patients. Five patients showed partial response(PR)and 1 showed stable disease(SD). The average number of days between NAC and surgery was 26.2(16-44). Postoperative complications were observed in 2 patients(anastomotic leakage and recurrent nerve paralysis). There was no treatment-related mortality. All patients are surviving without relapse. The present study indicated that DCF therapy for patients with resectable advanced ESCC prior to surgery could further improve prognosis.