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. 2025 Apr;60(4):397-407.
doi: 10.1007/s00535-024-02201-z. Epub 2024 Dec 11.

Impact of preceding treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma on synchronous superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Tomoya Ueda  1 , Ryu Ishihara  2 , Yasuhiro Tani  1 , Yoshiaki Ando  1 , Gentaro Tanabe  1 , Yuta Fujimoto  1 , Noriaki Ito  1 , Nobutoshi Tsukuda  1 , Kazuki Matsuyama  1 , Muneshin Morita  1 , Minoru Kato  1 , Shunsuke Yoshii  1 , Satoki Shichijo  1 , Takashi Kanesaka  1 , Sachiko Yamamoto  1 , Koji Higashino  1 , Noriya Uedo  1 , Tomoki Michida  1 , Takashi Fujii  3
Affiliations

Impact of preceding treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma on synchronous superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Tomoya Ueda et al. J Gastroenterol. 2025 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) frequently develop synchronous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). With advances in endoscopic technology and widespread screening of synchronous cancers, the detection of synchronous HNSCC and superficial ESCC (SESCC) is increasing. We aimed to evaluate the impact of preceding HNSCC treatment on synchronous SESCC.

Methods: This single-center retrospective study enrolled patients with synchronous HNSCC and SESCC who were treated between January 2010 and December 2023. Tumor size and depth of SESCC before and after HNSCC treatment were evaluated. The factors associated with SESCC progression were investigated.

Results: Of the 299 patients with synchronous HNSCC and SESCC, 134 who underwent preceding HNSCC treatment with follow-up esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for SESCC were evaluated. Chemoradiotherapy was the most common treatment for HNSCC (56.0%), followed by surgery (17.2%), radiotherapy (14.9%), local resection (7.5%), and chemotherapy (4.5%). The tumor size of SESCC increased after HNSCC treatment in 18 patients (13.4%). Multivariate analysis revealed that an EGD interval of ≥ 120 days was significantly associated with increased tumor size in SESCC (odds ratio, 6.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.91-23.1). Tumor regrowth was observed in 70.6% of SESCCs that shrank with HNSCC treatment, mostly within six months. Tumor depth aggravation was rare (2.2%), but progression to advanced ESCC was observed in two patients.

Conclusions: Timely endoscopic follow-up, preferably within 120 days, is crucial for managing synchronous SESCC after HNSCC treatment to prevent tumor progression. Tumor regrowth should be monitored when SESCC shrinks with HNSCC treatment.

Keywords: Digestive system endoscopy; Disease progression; Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; Synchronous neoplasms.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: Ryu Ishihara has received honoraria from Olympus, FUJIFILM Medical, Daiichi-Sankyo, Miyarisan Pharmaceutical, AI Medical Service, Astra Zeneca, MSD, and Ono Pharmaceutical. Satoki Shichijo has received honoraria from Olympus, EA Pharma, Astra Zeneca, AI Medical Service, Janssen Pharmaceutical, and FUJIFILM Medical. Takashi Kanesaka has received honoraria from Olympus, AstraZeneca, and AI Medical Service. Sachiko Yamamoto has received honoraria from Ono Pharmaceutical and MSD. Noriya Uedo has received honoraria from Olympus, FUJIFILM Medical, Boston Scientific, Daiichi-Sankyo, Takeda Pharmaceutical, EA Pharma, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, AstraZeneca, Miyarisan Pharmaceutical, and AI Medical Service. Takashi Fujii has received honoraria from Merck Biopharma, Taiho Pharmaceutical, Rakuten Medical, MSD, and Medtronic. The other authors have no financial relationships to disclose.

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