MULTIMODAL APPROACH TO THE TREATMENT OF ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

Abstract

Objective: To study the effectiveness and tolerability of preoperative chemotherapy (CHT) in combination with radical surgery in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) II-III stages Methods: The results of the combined and surgical treatment of 43 patients with ESCC II-III stages are presented. The main group consisted of 22 patients who were assigned two courses of CHT before surgery (gemcitabine/cisplatin), followed by a radical surgery. The control group included 21 patients who received only surgical treatment. Results: Preoperative CHT in one (4.5±4.6%) patient gave a complete regression of the tumor, incomplete regression was in ten (45.5±11.1%) and stabilization is established in nine (40.9±10.9%) patients. The therapy had satisfactory tolerability and low toxicity, most patients observed the restoration of a full enteral nutrition. Postoperative complications in both groups of observations developed in 18.2±8.6% and 23.8±9.5% respectively (p>0.05). Preoperative CHT in the combined treatment of ESCC II-III stages has significantly improved two-year relapse-free and overall survival (80,9±8,7% and 85,7±7,8%) compared to the control group (35.0±10.6% and 55.0±11.1%) (p<0.05). Conclusion: The multimodal approach in the treatment of patients in II-III stages ESCC has pronounced damaging effect on the tumor and allows to significantly increase two-year relapse-free and overall survival rate compared to patients who have undergone only surgical treatment.

Keywords

• esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
• combined treatment
• preoperative chemotherapy
• short-term and long-term results.