Published online Nov 15, 2021. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v13.i11.1781
Peer-review started: June 15, 2021
First decision: July 16, 2021
Revised: July 18, 2021
Accepted: August 23, 2021
Article in press: August 23, 2021
Published online: November 15, 2021
Processing time: 149 Days and 23 Hours
The most common type of esophageal cancer in China is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), which accounts for 89% of all esophageal cancer cases. The 5-year survival rate of Chinese ESCC patients is 20%-30% overall. The preferred treatment modality for esophageal cancer is surgery, but 80% of patients are no longer eligible for radical surgery upon diagnosis.
We conducted the present prospective study to investigate the efficacy and safety of induction chemotherapy with albumin-bound paclitaxel (ABP) plus lobaplatin (LBP) followed by concurrent radiochemotherapy (RCT) in the treatment of locally advanced esophageal cancer.
This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of induction chemotherapy with ABP plus LBP followed by concurrent RCT for locally advanced esophageal cancer.
Patients with pathologically confirmed advanced ESCC were enrolled in this study. All patients were treated with two cycles of induction chemotherapy with ABP plus LBP followed by concurrent RCT. A total of four cycles were scheduled.
Cox multivariate analysis revealed that two cycles of induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent RCT significantly reduced the risk of progressive disease compared with two cycles of chemotherapy alone. Non-hematologic toxicities were tolerable, and the only grade 3 non-hematologic toxicity was radiation-induced esophagitis. The main hematologic toxicity was neutropenia, and no grade 4 adverse event occurred.
Induction chemotherapy with ABP plus LBP followed by concurrent RCT is effective in patients with locally advanced ESCC, with mild adverse effects. Thus, this protocol is worthy of clinical promotion and application.
As an interim report, this study was limited by its short follow-up intervals, and patients’ survival and tumor recurrence/metastasis need to be further investigated.