Improved local control by surgery and paclitaxel-based chemoradiation for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Results of a retrospective non-randomized study

Background and Objectives: To investigate the impact of using paclitaxel in chemoradiation on locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treated with or without surgery. Methods: Of 127 patients with AJCC stages II-III esophageal SCC undergoing definitive chemoradiation (DefCRT, n = 44) or ncoadjuvant chemoradiation plus surgery (NeoCRT + S, n = 83), 57 received chemotherapy with paclitaxel and cisplatin (TP), and 70 received 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin (PF). Three-year local progression-free survival (LPFS), distant metastasis-free survival, overall survival, and prognostic factors were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The median survival was 30 months. Pathological complete response rate was 41 % and 27% with TP and PF, respectively (P = 0. 19). NeoCRT + S achieved significantly higher LPFS than DefCRT (71 % vs. 39%, P < 0.001). Patients receiving TP had significantly higher LPFS than PF (74% vs. 48%, P = 0.04). Local control was similar between DefCRT with TP and NeoCRT + S. Distant metastasis-free survival and overall survival were not different between treatment modalities or chemotherapy regimens. In multivariate analysis, surgery (HR 0.30, P < 0.00 1), TP regimen (HR 0.38, P = 0.007), and mediastinal lymphadenopathy (HR 2.37, P = 0.008) were independent factors for LPFS. Conclusions: Both surgery and the use of paclitaxel-based chemoradiation may improve local disease control. Future randomized trials should integrate paclitaxel into definitive chemoradiation.