Relationship between adjuvant radiotherapy dose and pathologic complete response in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell cancer / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the relationship between the dose of preoperative neoadjuvant radiotherapy and the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate in patients with locally advanced squamous cell esophageal cancer (ESCC).Methods:Clinical data of 116 patients with ESCC who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by esophagectomy in our cancer center from July 2017 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The radiation doses were divided into 2 ranges based on Grays (Gy) received 40-45 Gy and 45 Gy or more.Results:The overall pCR rate was 38. 8%(45/116). pCR was observed in 35 out of 80(44%) patients treated with 40-45 Gy and 10 of 36(28%) patients treated with 45 Gy or more. The pCR rate did not significantly differ between two groups [(40-45 Gy) vs.( ≥ 45 Gy), P=0.105)]. Conclusions:Preoperative neoadjuvant radiotherapy with a higher dose (≥ 45 Gy) fails to increase the pCR rate in patients with locally advanced ESCC. Prospective randomized trials are required to determine the optimal dose of preoperative adjuvant radiotherapy.