Advances in Diagnostic, Staging, and Restaging Evaluation of Esophageal and Gastric Cancer

The initial endoscopic and staging evaluation of esophagogastric cancers must be accurate and comprehensive in order to select the optimal therapeutic plan for the patient. Esophageal and gastric cancers (and treatment paradigms) are delineated by their proximity to the cardia (within 2 cm). The most frequent and important symptom that informs the initial staging evaluation is dysphagia, which is associated with at least cT3 or locally advanced disease. Endoscopic ultrasound is often needed if earlier stage disease is suspected, preferably in combination with endoscopic mucosal or submucosal resection or fine-needle aspiration of suspicious lymph nodes to enhance staging accuracy.

Multi-disciplinary management of esophageal carcinoma: Current practices and future directions

Esophageal cancer in one of the most malignant and hard-to-treat cancers. Esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESCC) is most common in Asian countries, whereas adenocarcinoma at the esophago-gastric junction (EGJ AC) is more prevalent in the Western countries. Due to differences in both genetic background and response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, both histologic subtypes need different paradigms of management. Since the landmark CROSS study has demonstrated the superior survival benefit of tri-modality including neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy prior to esophagectomy, the tri-modality becomes the standard of care; however, it is suitable for a highly-selected patient. Tri-modality should be offered for every ESCC patient, if a patient is fit for surgery with adequate cardiopulmonary reserve, regardless of ages. Definitive chemoradiotherapy remains the best option for a patient who is not a surgical candidate or declines surgery. On the contrary, owing to doubtful benefits of radiotherapy with potentially more toxicities related to radiotherapy in EGJ AC, either neoadjuvant chemotherapy or peri-operative chemotherapy would be more preferable in an EGJ AC patient. In case of very locally advanced disease (cT4b), the proper management is more challenging. Even though, palliative care is the safe option, multi-modality therapy with curative intent like neoadjuvant chemotherapy with conversion surgery may be worthwhile; however, it should be suggested on case-by-case basis.

State of the scientific evidence and recommendations for the management of older patients with gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is one of the most frequent and deadly tumours worldwide. However, the evidence that currently exists for the treatment of older adults is limited and is derived mainly from clinical trials in which older patients are poorly represented. In this article, a group of experts selected from the Oncogeriatrics Section of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), the Spanish Group for the Treatment of Digestive Tumours (TTD), and the Spanish Multidisciplinary Group on Digestive Cancer (GEMCAD) reviews the existing scientific evidence for older patients (≥65 years old) with gastric cancer and establishes a series of recommendations that allow optimization of management during all phases of the disease. Geriatric assessment (GA) and a multidisciplinary approach should be fundamental parts of the process. In early stages, endoscopic submucosal resection or laparoscopic gastrectomy is recommended depending on the stage. In locally advanced stage, the tolerability of triplet regimens has been established; however, as in the metastatic stage, platinum- and fluoropyrimidine-based regimens with the possibility of lower dose intensity are recommended resulting in similar efficacy. Likewise, the administration of trastuzumab, ramucirumab and immunotherapy for unresectable metastatic or locally advanced disease is safe. Supportive treatment acquires special importance in a population with different life expectancies than at a younger age. It is essential to consider the general state of the patient and the psychosocial dimension.

Low-Dose Radiation Yields Lower Rates of Pathologic Response in Esophageal Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND

Although neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT) followed by surgery is standard treatment for locally advanced esophageal or gastroesophageal junction (E/GEJ) cancer, the optimal radiation dose is still under debate.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of different preoperative radiation doses (41.4 Gy, 45 Gy or 50.4 Gy) on pathologic response and survival in E/GEJ cancer patients.

METHODS

All consecutive patients with E/GEJ tumors, treated with curative intent between January 2009 and December 2016 in two referral centers were divided into three groups (41.4 Gy, 45 Gy and 50.4 Gy) according to the dose of preoperative radiotherapy. Pathologic complete response (pCR) rates, postoperative morbidity, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were compared among the three groups, with separate analyses for adenocarcinoma (AC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

RESULTS

From the 326 patients analyzed, 48 were included in the 41.4 Gy group (14.7%), 171 in the 45 Gy group (52.5%) and 107 in the 50.4 Gy group (32.8%). Postoperative complication rates were comparable (p = 0.399). A pCR was observed in 15%, 30%, and 34% of patients in the 41.4 Gy, 45 Gy and 50.4 Gy groups, respectively (p = 0.047). A 50.4 Gy dose was independently associated with pCR (odds ratio 2.78, 95% confidence interval 1.10-7.99) in multivariate analysis. Within AC patients, pCR was observed in 6.2% of patients in the 41.4 Gy group, 29.2% of patients in the 45 Gy group, and 22.7% of patients in the 50.4 Gy group (p = 0.035). No OS or DFS differences were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

A pCR was less common after a preoperative radiation dose of 41.4 Gy in AC patients. Radiation dose had no impact on postoperative morbidity, long-term survival, and recurrence.

Dosimetric advantages for cardiac substructures in radiotherapy of esophageal cancer in deep-inspiration breath hold

BACKGROUND

Radiotherapy is one of the main treatment options for patients with esophageal cancer; however, it has been linked with an increased risk of cardiac toxicities. In the current study, we evaluated the effect of planning the radiation in deep-inspiration breath hold (DIBH) on the dose sparing of cardiac substructures and lung.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, we analyzed 30 radiation therapy plans from 15 patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer planned for neoadjuvant radiotherapy. Radiation plans were generated for 41.4 Gy and delivered in 1.8 Gy per fraction for free-breathing (FB) and DIBH techniques. We then conducted a comparative dosimetric analysis, evaluating target volume coverage, the impact on cardiac substructures, and lung doses across the two planning techniques for each patient.

RESULTS

There was no significant disparity in target volume dose coverage between DIBH and FB plans. However, the Dmean, D2%, and V30% of the heart experienced substantial reductions in DIBH relative to FB, with values of 6.21 versus 7.02 Gy (p = 0.011), 35.28 versus 35.84 Gy (p = 0.047), and 5% versus 5.8% (p = 0.048), respectively. The Dmean of the left ventricle was notably lower in DIBH compared to FB (4.27 vs. 5.12 Gy, p = 0.0018), accompanied by significant improvements in V10. Additionally, the Dmean and D2% of the left coronary artery, as well as the D2% of the right coronary artery, were significantly lower in DIBH. The dosimetric impact of DIBH on cardiac substructures proved more advantageous for middle esophageal (ME) than distal esophageal (DE) tumors.

CONCLUSION

Radiotherapy in DIBH could provide a method to reduce the radiation dose to the left ventricle and coronaries, which could reduce the cardiac toxicity of the modality.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American Society for Radiation Oncology Updated Clinical Practice Guidelines on Multimodality Therapy for Locally Advanced Cancer of the Esophagus or Gastroesophageal Junction

Outcomes for patients with esophageal cancer have improved over the last decade with the implementation of multimodality therapy. There are currently no comprehensive guidelines addressing multidisciplinary management of esophageal cancer that have incorporated the input of surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists. To address the need for multidisciplinary input in the management of esophageal cancer and to meet current best practices for clinical practice guidelines, the current guidelines were created as a collaboration between The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Physician representatives chose 8 key clinical questions pertinent to the care of patients with locally advanced, resectable thoracic esophageal cancer (excluding cervical location). A comprehensive literature review was performed identifying 227 articles that met the inclusion criteria covering the use of induction chemotherapy, chemotherapy vs chemoradiotherapy before surgery, optimal radiation dose, the value of esophagectomy, timing of esophagectomy, the approach and extent of lymphadenectomy, the use of minimally invasive esophagectomy, and the value of adjuvant therapy after resection. The relevant data were reviewed and voted on by the panel with 80% of the authors, with 75% agreement on class and level of evidence. These data were then complied into the guidelines document.

Total neoadjuvant therapy in oesophageal and gastro-oesophageal junctional adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and gastro-oesophageal junction represent a large burden of cancer death in the Western World with an increasing incidence. In the past two decades, the overall survival of patients on a potentially curative treatment pathway has more than doubled due to the addition of perioperative oncological therapies to surgery. However, patients often fail to respond to oncological treatment or struggle to complete their treatment after surgery. In this review, we discuss the current evidence for total neoadjuvant therapy and options for assessment of treatment response.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons/American Society for Radiation Oncology Updated Clinical Practice Guidelines on Multimodality Therapy for Locally Advanced Cancer of the Esophagus or Gastroesophageal Junction

Outcomes for patients with esophageal cancer have improved over the last decade with the implementation of multimodality therapy. There are currently no comprehensive guidelines addressing multidisciplinary management of esophageal cancer that have incorporated the input of surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists. To address the need for multidisciplinary input in the management of esophageal cancer and to meet current best practices for clinical practice guidelines, the current guidelines were created as a collaboration between The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Physician representatives chose 8 key clinical questions pertinent to the care of patients with locally advanced, resectable thoracic esophageal cancer (excluding cervical location). A comprehensive literature review was performed identifying 227 articles that met the inclusion criteria covering the use of induction chemotherapy, chemotherapy vs chemoradiotherapy before surgery, optimal radiation dose, the value of esophagectomy, timing of esophagectomy, the approach and extent of lymphadenectomy, the use of minimally invasive esophagectomy, and the value of adjuvant therapy after resection. The relevant data were reviewed and voted on by the panel with 80% of the authors, with 75% agreement on class and level of evidence. These data were then complied into the guidelines document.

Molecular Biology and Clinical Management of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a highly lethal malignancy. Due to its rising incidence, EAC has become a severe health challenge in Western countries. Current treatment strategies are mainly chosen based on disease stage and clinical features, whereas the biological background is hardly considered. In this study, we performed a comprehensive review of existing studies and discussed how etiology, genetics and epigenetic characteristics, together with the tumor microenvironment, contribute to the malignant behavior and dismal prognosis of EAC. During the development of EAC, several intestinal-type proteins and signaling cascades are induced. The anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive microenvironment is associated with poor survival. The accumulation of somatic mutations at the early phase and chromosomal structural rearrangements at relatively later time points contribute to the dynamic and heterogeneous genetic landscape of EAC. EAC is also characterized by frequent DNA methylation and dysregulation of microRNAs. We summarize the findings of dysregulations of specific cytokines, chemokines and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and conclude that DNA methylation and microRNAs vary with each different phase of BE, LGD, HGD, early EAC and invasive EAC. Furthermore, we discuss the suitability of the currently employed therapies in the clinic and possible new therapies in the future. The development of targeted and immune therapies has been hampered by the heterogeneous genetic characteristics of EAC. In view of this, the up-to-date knowledge revealed by this work is absolutely important for future EAC studies and the discovery of new therapeutics.

Oncological outcomes of standard versus prolonged time to surgery after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for oesophageal cancer in the multicentre, randomised, controlled NeoRes II trial

BACKGROUND

The optimal time to surgery (TTS) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) for oesophageal cancer is unknown and has traditionally been 4-6 weeks in clinical practice. Observational studies have suggested better outcomes, especially in terms of histological response, after prolonged delay of up to 3 months after nCRT. The NeoRes II trial is the first randomised trial to compare standard to prolonged TTS after nCRT for oesophageal cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with resectable, locally advanced oesophageal cancer were randomly assigned to standard delay of surgery of 4-6 weeks or prolonged delay of 10-12 weeks after nCRT. The primary endpoint was complete histological response of the primary tumour in patients with adenocarcinoma (AC). Secondary endpoints included histological tumour response, resection margins, overall and progression-free survival in all patients and stratified by histologic type.

RESULTS

Between February 2015 and March 2019, 249 patients from 10 participating centres in Sweden, Norway and Germany were randomised: 125 to standard and 124 to prolonged TTS. There was no significant difference in complete histological response between AC patients allocated to standard (21%) compared to prolonged (26%) TTS (P = 0.429). Tumour regression, resection margins and number of resected lymph nodes, total and metastatic, did not differ between the allocated interventions. The first quartile overall survival in patients allocated to standard TTS was 26.5 months compared to 14.2 months after prolonged TTS (P = 0.003) and the overall risk of death during follow-up was 35% higher after prolonged delay (hazard ratio 1.35, 95% confidence interval 0.94-1.95, P = 0.107).

CONCLUSION

Prolonged TTS did not improve histological complete response or other pathological endpoints, while there was a strong trend towards worse survival, suggesting caution in routinely delaying surgery for >6 weeks after nCRT.

Long-Term Postsurgical Outcomes of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation (CROSS) Versus Chemotherapy (FLOT) for Multimodal Treatment of Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus and the Esophagogastric Junction

BACKGROUND

The question of the ideal neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced esophagogastric adenocarcinoma has not been answered to date. Multimodal treatment has become a standard treatment for these adenocarcinomas. Currently, perioperative chemotherapy (FLOT) or neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CROSS) is recommended.

METHODS

A monocentric retrospective analysis compared long-term survival after CROSS versus FLOT. The study enrolled patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (EAC) or the esophagogastric junction type I or II undergoing oncologic Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy between January 2012 and December 2019. The primary objective was to determine the long-term outcome in terms of overall survival. The secondary objectives were to determine differences regarding the histopathologic categories after neoadjuvant treatment and the histomorphologic regression.

RESULTS

The findings showed no survival advantage for one or the other treatment in this highly standardized cohort. All the patients underwent open (CROSS: 9.4% vs. FLOT: 22%), hybrid (CROSS: 82% vs. FLOT: 72%), or minimally invasive (CROSS: 8.9% vs. FLOT: 5.6%) thoracoabdominal esophagectomy. The median post-surgical follow-up period was 57.6 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 23.2-109.7 months), and the median survival was longer for the CROSS patients (54 months) than for the FLOT patients (37.2 months) (p = 0.053). The overall 5-years survival was 47% for the entire cohort (48% for the CROSS and 43% for the FLOT patients). The CROSS patients showed a better pathologic response and fewer advanced tumor stages.

CONCLUSION

The improved pathologic response after CROSS cannot be translated into longer overall survival. To date, the choice of which neoadjuvant treatment to use can be made only on the basis of clinical parameters and the patient's performance status.

Delayed Surgical Intervention After Chemoradiotherapy in Esophageal Cancer: (DICE) Study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact of delayed surgical intervention following chemoradiotherapy (CRT) on survival from esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND

CRT is a core component of multimodality treatment for locally advanced esophageal cancer. The timing of surgery following CRT may influence the probability of performing an oncological resection and the associated operative morbidity.

METHODS

This was an international, multicenter, cohort study, including patients from 17 centers who received CRT followed by surgery between 2010 and 2020. In the main analysis, patients were divided into 4 groups based upon the interval between CRT and surgery (0-50, 51-100, 101-200, and >200 days) to assess the impact upon 90-day mortality and 5-year overall survival. Multivariable logistic and Cox regression provided hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs adjusted for relevant patient, oncological, and pathologic confounding factors.

RESULTS

A total of 2867 patients who underwent esophagectomy after CRT were included. After adjustment for relevant confounders, prolonged interval following CRT was associated with an increased 90-day mortality compared with 0 to 50 days (reference): 51 to 100 days (HR=1.54, 95% CI: 1.04-2.29), 101 to 200 days (HR=2.14, 95% CI: 1.37-3.35), and >200 days (HR=3.06, 95% CI: 1.64-5.69). Similarly, a poorer 5-year overall survival was also observed with prolonged interval following CRT compared with 0 to 50 days (reference): 101 to 200 days (HR=1.41, 95% CI: 1.17-1.70), and >200 days (HR=1.64, 95% CI: 1.24-2.17).

CONCLUSIONS

Prolonged interval following CRT before esophagectomy is associated with increased 90-day mortality and poorer long-term survival. Further investigation is needed to understand the mechanism that underpins these adverse outcomes observed with a prolonged interval to surgery.

Clinical implications of dose to functional lung volumes in the trimodality treatment of esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

Trimodality treatment, i.e., neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by surgery, for locally advanced esophageal cancer (EC) improves overall survival but also increases the risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Here, we tried to identify a relation between dose to functional lung volumes (FLV) as determined by 4D-CT scans in EC patients and treatment-related lung toxicity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All patients with EC undergoing trimodality treatment between 2017 and 2022 in UZ Leuven and scanned with 4D-CT-simulation were selected. FLVs were determined based on Jacobian determinants of deformable image registration between maximum inspiration and expiration phases. Dose/volume parameters of the anatomical lung volume (ALV) and FLV were compared between patients with versus without postoperative pulmonary complications. Results of pre- and post-nCRT pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were collected and compared in relation to radiation dose.

RESULTS

Twelve out of 51 EC patients developed postoperative pulmonary complications. ALV was smaller while FLV10Gy and FLV20Gy were larger in patients with complications (respectively 3141 ± 858mL vs 3601 ± 635mL, p = 0.025; 360 ± 216mL vs 264 ± 139mL, p = 0.038; 166 ± 106mL vs 118 ± 63mL, p = 0.030). No differences in ALV dose-volume parameters were detected. Baseline FEV1 and TLC were significantly lower in patients with complications (respectively 90 ± 17%pred vs 102 ± 20%pred, p = 0.033 and 93 ± 17%pred vs 110 ± 13%pred, p = 0.001), though no other PFTs were significantly different between both groups. DLCO was the only PFT that had a meaningful decrease after nCRT (85 ± 17%pred vs 68 ± 15%pred, p < 0.001) but was not related to dose to ALV/FLV.

CONCLUSION

Small ALV and increasing FLV exposed to intermediate (10 to 20 Gy) dose are associated to postoperative pulmonary complications. Changes of DLCO occur during nCRT but do not seem to be related to radiation dose to ALV or FLV. This information could attribute towards toxicity risk prediction and reduction strategies for EC.

Machine learning to predict curative multidisciplinary team treatment decisions in oesophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

Rising workflow pressures within the oesophageal cancer (OC) multidisciplinary team (MDT) can lead to variability in decision-making, and health inequality. Machine learning (ML) offers a potential automated data-driven approach to address inconsistency and standardize care. The aim of this experimental pilot study was to develop ML models able to predict curative OC MDT treatment decisions and determine the relative importance of underlying decision-critical variables.

METHODS

Retrospective complete-case analysis of oesophagectomy patients ± neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) or chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) between 2010 and 2020. Established ML algorithms (Multinomial Logistic regression (MLR), Random Forests (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB)) and Decision Tree (DT) were used to train models predicting OC MDT treatment decisions: surgery (S), NACT + S or NACRT + S. Performance metrics included Area Under the Curve (AUC), Accuracy, Kappa, LogLoss, F1 and Precision -Recall AUC. Variable importance was calculated for each model.

RESULTS

We identified 399 cases with a male-to-female ratio of 3.6:1 and median age of 66.1yrs (range 32-83). MLR outperformed RF, XGB and DT across performance metrics (mean AUC of 0.793 [±0.045] vs 0.757 [±0.068], 0.740 [±0.042], and 0.709 [±0.021] respectively). Variable importance analysis identified age as a major factor in the decision to offer surgery alone or NACT + S across models (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

ML techniques can use limited feature-sets to predict curative UGI MDT treatment decisions. Explainable Artificial Intelligence methods provide insight into decision-critical variables, highlighting underlying subconscious biases in cancer care decision-making. Such models may allow prioritization of caseload, improve efficiency, and offer data-driven decision-assistance to MDTs in the future.

Pattern and time point of relapse in locally advanced esophagogastric adenocarcinoma after multimodal treatment: implications for a useful structured follow-up

PURPOSE

Despite improvements in multimodal treatment of locally advanced esophagogastric adenocarcinoma, the majority of patients still relapses. The impact of structured follow-up for early detection of recurrence is unclear and controversially discussed.

METHODS

Patients with locally advanced esophagogastric adenocarcinoma having received neoadjuvant/perioperative chemotherapy followed by tumor resection between 2009 and 2021, underwent a structured follow-up including three-monthly imaging during the first 2 years, followed by semiannual and annual examinations in year 3-4 and 5, respectively. Clinical outcome including pattern and time point of relapse was analyzed.

RESULTS

Two hundred fifty-seven patients were included in this analysis. In 50.2% (n = 129) of patients, recurrent disease was diagnosed, with the majority (94.6%) relapsing within the first 2 years. The most common site of relapse were lymph node metastases followed by peritoneal carcinomatosis and hepatic and pulmonary metastases. 52.7% of patients presented with symptoms at the time of relapse. Cumulative risk and time point of relapse differed significantly between patient with a node-positive tumor (ypN+) after neoadjuvant treatment (high-risk group) and patients with node-negative primary tumor (ypN0) (low-risk group). High-risk patients had a significantly inferior disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) with 11.1 and 29.0 months, respectively, whereas median DFS and OS were not reached for the low-risk group.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of relapse differs significantly between high- and low-risk patients. Only a part of relapses is associated with clinical symptoms. An individualized follow-up strategy is recommended for high- and low-risk patients considering the individual risk of relapse.

Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Versus Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Locally Advanced Esophageal Adenocarcinoma in the European Multicenter ENSURE Study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare clinicopathologic, oncologic, and health-related quality of life (HRQL) outcomes following neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT) and chemotherapy (nCT) in the ENSURE international multicenter study.

BACKGROUND

nCT and nCRT are the standards of care for locally advanced esophageal cancer (LAEC) treated with curative intent. However, no published randomized controlled trial to date has demonstrated the superiority of either approach.

METHODS

ENSURE is an international multicenter study of consecutive patients undergoing surgery for LAEC (2009-2015) across 20 high-volume centers (NCT03461341). The primary outcome measure was overall survival (OS), secondary outcomes included histopathologic response, recurrence pattern, oncologic outcome, and HRQL in survivorship.

RESULTS

A total of 2211 patients were studied (48% nCT, 52% nCRT). pCR was observed in 4.9% and 14.7% ( P <0.001), with R0 in 78.2% and 94.2% ( P <0.001) post nCT and nCRT, respectively. Postoperative morbidity was equivalent, but in-hospital mortality was independently increased [hazard ratio (HR)=2.73, 95% CI: 1.43-5.21, P= 0.002] following nCRT versus nCT. Probability of local recurrence was reduced (odds ratio=0.71, 95% CI: 0.54-0.93, P =0.012), and distant recurrence-free survival time reduced (HR=1.18, 95% CI: 1.02-1.37, P =0.023) after nCRT versus nCT, with no difference in OS among all patients (HR=1.10, 95% CI: 0.98-1.25, P =0.113). On subgroup analysis, patients who underwent R0 resection following nCT as compared with nCRT had improved OS (median: 60.7 months, 95% CI: 49.5-71.8 vs 40.8 months, 95% CI: 42.8-53.4, P <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In this European multicenter study, nCRT compared with nCT was associated with reduced probability of local recurrence but reduced distant recurrence-free survival for patients with LAEC, without differences in OS. These data support tailored patient-specific decision-making in the overall approach to achieving optimum outcomes in LAEC.

Independent Stage Classification for Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma

In gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma cases, a prognosis based on ypTNM staging could be affected by preoperative therapy. Patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma and gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent preoperative therapy followed by surgical resection from 2006 through 2017 were identified in the National Cancer Database. To enable stage-by-stage OS comparisons, tumors were classified into four gross ypTNM groups: ypT1/2, N-negative; ypT1/2, N-positive; ypT3/4, N-negative; and ypT3/4, N-positive. Prognostic factors were examined, and an OS prediction nomogram was developed for patients with abdominal/lower esophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma, representing GEJ cancers. We examined 25,463 patient records. When compared by gross ypTNM group, the abdominal/lower esophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma groups had similar OS rates, differing from those of other esophageal or gastric cancers. Cox regression analysis of patients with GEJ cancers showed that preoperative chemoradiotherapy was associated with shorter OS than preoperative chemotherapy after adjustment for the ypTNM group (hazard ratio 1.31, 95% CI 1.24-1.39, p < 0.001), likely owing to downstaging effects. The nomogram had a concordance index of 0.833 and a time-dependent area under the curve of 0.669. OS prediction in GEJ adenocarcinoma cases should include preoperative therapy regimens. Our OS prediction nomogram provided reasonable OS prediction for patients with GEJ adenocarcinoma, and future validation is needed.

The oesophageal adenocarcinoma tumour immune microenvironment dictates outcomes with different modalities of neoadjuvant therapy - results from the AGITG DOCTOR trial and the cancer evolution biobank

A plateau in treatment effect can be seen for the current 'one-size-fits-all' approach to oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) management using neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) or chemotherapy (nCT). In OAC, the tumour microenvironment (TME) is largely immunosuppressed, however a subgroup of patients with an immune-inflamed TME exist and show improved outcomes. We aimed to understand the overall immune-based mechanisms underlying treatment responses and patient outcomes in OAC, and in relation to neoadjuvant therapy modality. This study included 107 patients; 68 patients were enrolled in the Australian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group sponsored DOCTOR Trial, and 38 patients were included from the Cancer Evolution Biobank. Matched pre-treatment and post-treatment tumour biopsies were used to perform multi-modality analysis of the OAC TME including NanoString mRNA expression analysis, multiplex and single colour immunohistochemistry (IHC), and peripheral blood mononuclear cell analysis of tumour-antigen specific T cell responses. Patients with the best clinicopathological outcomes and survival had an immune-inflamed TME enriched with anti-tumour immune cells and pathways. Those with the worst survival showed a myeloid T regulatory cell enriched TME, with decreased CD8+ cell infiltration and increased pro-tumour immune cells. Multiplex IHC analysis identified that high intra-tumoural infiltration of CD8+ cells, and low infiltration with CD163+ cells was associated with improved survival. High tumour core CD8+ T cell infiltration, and a low tumour margin infiltration of CD163+ cells was also associated with improved survival. nCRT showed improved survival compared with nCT for patients with low CD8+, or high CD163+ cell infiltration. Poly-functional T cell responses were seen with tumour-antigen specific T cells. Overall, our study supports the development of personalised therapeutic approaches based on the immune microenvironment in OAC. Patients with an immune-inflamed TME show favourable outcomes regardless of treatment modality. However, in those with an immunosuppressed TME with CD163+ cell infiltration, treatment with nCRT can improve outcomes. Our findings support previous studies into the TME of OAC and with more research, immune based biomarker selection of treatment modality may lead in improved outcomes in this deadly disease.

Individual Participant Data Network Meta-Analysis of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy or Chemoradiotherapy in Esophageal or Gastroesophageal Junction Carcinoma

PURPOSE

The optimal neoadjuvant treatment for resectable carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus (TE) or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) remains a matter of debate. We performed an individual participant data (IPD) network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to study the effect of chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, with a focus on tumor location and histology subgroups.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All, published or unpublished, RCTs closed to accrual before December 31, 2015 and having compared at least two of the following strategies were eligible: upfront surgery (S), chemotherapy followed by surgery (CS), and chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery (CRS). All analyses were conducted on IPD obtained from investigators. The primary end point was overall survival (OS). The IPD-NMA was analyzed by a one-step mixed-effect Cox model adjusted for age, sex, tumor location, and histology. The NMA was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42018107158).

RESULTS

IPD were obtained for 26 of 35 RCTs (4,985 of 5,807 patients) corresponding to 12 comparisons for CS-S, 12 for CRS-S, and four for CRS-CS. CS and CRS led to increased OS when compared with S with hazard ratio (HR) = 0.86 (0.75 to 0.99), P = .03 and HR = 0.77 (0.68 to 0.87), P < .001 respectively. The NMA comparison of CRS versus CS for OS gave a HR of 0.90 (0.74 to 1.09), P = .27 (consistency P = .26, heterogeneity P = .0038). For CS versus S, a larger effect on OS was observed for GEJ versus TE tumors (P = .036). For the CRS versus S and CRS versus CS, a larger effect on OS was observed for women (P = .003, .012, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy were consistently better than S alone across histology, but with some variation in the magnitude of treatment effect by sex for CRS and tumor location for CS. A strong OS difference between CS and CRS was not identified.

Pathologic Lymph Node Regression After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Predicts Recurrence and Survival in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: A Multicenter Study in the United Kingdom

PURPOSE

There is limited evidence regarding the prognostic effects of pathologic lymph node (LN) regression after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal adenocarcinoma, and a definition of LN response is lacking. This study aimed to evaluate how LN regression influences survival after surgery for esophageal adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

Multicenter cohort study of patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgical resection at five high-volume centers in the United Kingdom. LNs retrieved at esophagectomy were examined for chemotherapy response and given a LN regression score (LNRS)-LNRS 1, complete response; 2, <10% residual tumor; 3, 10%-50% residual tumor; 4, >50% residual tumor; and 5, no response. Survival analysis was performed using Cox regression adjusting for confounders including primary tumor regression. The discriminatory ability of different LN response classifications to predict survival was evaluated using Akaike information criterion and Harrell C-index.

RESULTS

In total, 17,930 LNs from 763 patients were examined. LN response classified as complete LN response (LNRS 1 ≥1 LN, no residual tumor in any LN; n = 62, 8.1%), partial LN response (LNRS 1-3 ≥1 LN, residual tumor ≥1 LN; n = 155, 20.3%), poor/no LN response (LNRS 4-5; n = 303, 39.7%), or LN negative (no tumor/regression; n = 243, 31.8%) demonstrated superior discriminatory ability. Mortality was reduced in patients with complete LN response (hazard ratio [HR], 0.35; 95% CI, 0.22 to 0.56), partial LN response (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.93) or negative LNs (HR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.25 to 0.42) compared with those with poor/no LN response. Primary tumor regression and LN regression were discordant in 165 patients (21.9%).

CONCLUSION

Pathologic LN regression after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was a strong prognostic factor and provides important information beyond pathologic TNM staging and primary tumor regression grading. LN regression should be included as standard in the pathologic reporting of esophagectomy specimens.

Systemic treatments for resectable carcinoma of the esophagus

One of the most prevalent malignancies in the world is esophageal cancer (EC). The 5-year survival rate of EC remains pitiful despite treatment advancements. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in conjunction with esophagectomy is the standard of care for patients with resectable disease. The pathological complete response rate, however, is not acceptable. A distant metastasis or a locoregional recurrence will occur in about half of the patients. To increase the clinical effectiveness of therapy, it is consequently vital to investigate cutting-edge and potent therapeutic modalities. The approach to the management of resectable EC using immunotherapy has been considerably altered by immune checkpoint inhibitors. Systemic immunotherapy has recently been shown to have the potential to increase the survival of patients with resectable EC, according to growing clinical data. A combination of chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy may have a synergistic antitumor impact because, according to mounting evidence, these treatments can stimulate the immune system via a number of different pathways. In light of this, it makes sense to consider the value of neoadjuvant immunotherapy for patients with surgically treatable EC. In this review, we clarify the rationale for neoadjuvant immunotherapy in resectable EC patients, recap the clinical outcomes of these approaches, go through the upcoming and ongoing investigations, and emphasize the difficulties and unmet research requirements.

A Review of Advances in Radiotherapy in the Setting of Esophageal Cancers

Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer worldwide and is the sixth most common cause of cancer-related mortality. The paradigm has shifted to include a multimodality approach with surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy (including immunotherapy), and radiation therapy. Advances in radiotherapy through techniques such as intensity modulated radiotherapy and proton beam therapy have allowed for the more dose homogeneity and improved organ sparing. In addition, recent studies of targeted therapies and predictive approaches in patients with locally advanced disease provide clinicians with new approaches to modify multimodality treatment to improve clinical outcomes.

Neoadjuvant and adjuvant approaches in gastroesophageal cancers

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Despite advances in the perioperative treatment of locally advanced (T2-4 and/or N+) gastroesophageal cancer with evolving chemoradiotherapy and chemotherapy regimens, prognosis remains poor. Biomarker-based approaches with targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibition present a new opportunity to improve response rate and overall survival. This review aims to shed light on the current treatment strategies and therapy options that are under investigation for the curatively intended perioperative treatment of gastroesophageal cancer.

RECENT FINDINGS

A major step for patients with advanced esophageal cancer and insufficient response to chemoradiotherapy was the implementation of immune checkpoint inhibition in the adjuvant treatment with positive effects on survival duration and quality of life (CheckMate577). Various studies that seek to further integrate immunotherapy or targeted therapy into (neo-) adjuvant treatment are on their way and show promising results.

SUMMARY

Ongoing clinical research tries to increase the effectivity of standard of care approaches for the perioperative treatment of gastroesophageal cancer. Biomarker based immunotherapy and targeted therapy bear the opportunity to further improve the outcome.

Nodal Yield <15 Is Associated With Reduced Survival in Esophagectomy and Is a Quality Metric

BACKGROUND

Surgical resection after neoadjuvant therapy remains the cornerstone of curative management of esophageal adenocarcinoma and is frequently used for squamous cell carcinoma. The optimal extent of lymphadenectomy and whether increasing lymph node yields confer a survival benefit remains unclear. Guidelines suggest resecting and examining a minimum of 15 lymph nodes at esophagectomy. This study assessed the impact of lymph node yield and lymph node ratio (LNR) on survival, identifying factors influencing nodal yield and radicality of resection.

METHODS

All patients undergoing esophagectomy with curative intent at a single institution (stage 1-4 inclusive) from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2020, were reviewed. Clinical and pathologic variables were interrogated. LNR was calculated by dividing positive lymph nodes by the total nodes resected.

RESULTS

Esophagectomy was performed in 397 patients, with 288 undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE). Margin status (hazard ratio [HR], 1.80; 95% CI, 1.15-2.83; P < .01), nodal yield <15 (HR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.29-3.04; P = .002), and elevated LNR (HR, 8.16; 95% CI, 2.89-23.06; P < .001) predicted survival. MIE had higher nodal yields compared with open procedures (30.7 vs 25.3, P < .001). Patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy had lower nodal yields compared with those with no neoadjuvant therapy and those with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (26.4 vs 30.6 vs 36.8, respectively; P < .001). Regression analysis determined a LNR of <0.05 was associated with a survival benefit.

CONCLUSIONS

Textbook lymphadenectomy is associated with improved survival. Low lymph node yield and a high LNR are associated with reduced overall survival. A LNR of <0.05 is associated with significant survival benefit. A minimum nodal yield of 15 should remain the standard of care.

Current status and future perspectives for the treatment of resectable locally advanced esophagogastric junction cancer: A narrative review

Incidence rates for esophagogastric junction cancer are rising rapidly worldwide possibly due to the economic development and demographic changes. Therefore, increased attention has been paid to the prevention, diagnosis, and the treatment of esophagogastric junction cancer. Although there are discrepancies in the treatment strategy between Asian and Western countries, surgery remains the mainstay of treatment for esophagogastric junction cancer. Recent developments of perioperative multidisciplinary treatment may lead to better therapeutic effect, higher complete resection rate, and better control of the residual diseases, thus result in prolonged prognosis. In this review, we will focus on the treatment of locally advanced resectable esophagogastric junction cancer, and discuss the current status and future perspectives of the perioperative treatment including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy, as well as the surgical strategy. Better understanding of the latest treatment strategy and future overlook may enable to standardize and individualize the treatment for esophagogastric junction cancer, thus leading to better prognosis for those patients.

Combined regression score predicts outcome after neoadjuvant treatment of oesophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

Histopathologic regression following neoadjuvant treatment (NT) of oesophageal cancer is a prognostic factor of survival, but the nodal status is not considered. Here, a score combining both to improve prediction of survival after neoadjuvant therapy is developed.

METHODS

Seven hundred and fifteen patients with oesophageal squamous cell (SCC) or adenocarcinoma (AC) undergoing NT and esophagectomy were analysed. Histopathologic response was classified according to percentage of vital residual tumour cells (VRTC): complete response (CR) without VRTC, major response with <10% VRTC, minor response with >10% VRTC. Nodal stage was classified as ypN0 and ypN+. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression were used for survival analysis.

RESULTS

Survival analysis identified three groups with significantly different mortality risks: (1) low-risk group for CR (ypT0N0) with 72% 5-year overall survival (5y-OS), (2) intermediate-risk group for minor/major responders and ypN0 with 59% 5y-OS, and (3) high-risk group for minor/major responders and ypN+ with 20% 5y-OS (p < 0.001). Median survival in AC and SCC cohorts were comparable (3.8 (CI 95%: 3.1, 5.3) vs. 4.6 years (CI 95%: 3.3, not reached), p = 0.3).

CONCLUSIONS

Histopathologic regression and nodal status should be combined for estimating AC and SCC prognosis. Poor survival in the high-risk group highlights need for adjuvant therapy.

Therapeutic Advances in the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Cancers

Gastroesophageal cancers are a group of aggressive malignancies that are inherently heterogeneous with poor prognosis. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, esophageal adenocarcinoma, gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, and gastric adenocarcinoma all have distinct underlying molecular biology, which can impact available targets and treatment response. Multimodality therapy is needed in the localized setting and treatment decisions require multidisciplinary discussions. Systemic therapies for treatment of advanced/metastatic disease should be biomarker-driven, when appropriate. Current FDA approved treatments include HER2-targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, novel therapeutic targets are under development and future treatments will be personalized based on molecular profiling. Herein, we review the current treatment approaches and discuss promising advances in targeted therapies for gastroesophageal cancers.

Neoadjuvant Management of Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus and Esophagogastric Junction: Review of Randomized Evidence and Definition of Optimum Treatment Algorithm

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT) or chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) are accepted standards of care for the management of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction.

SUMMARY

The MRC-OEO2 study established the role of 2 cycles of neoadjuvant cisplatin/fluoropyrimidine. More recently, the FLOT-AIO4 study demonstrated the superiority of perioperative FLOT chemotherapy (5FU, oxaliplatin, and docetaxel) compared to ECX (epirubicin, cisplatin, and capecitabine) regime. The results from the pivotal CROSS study established neoadjuvant CRT as a new standard of care in OG cancer. The survival benefits observed in FLOT and CROSS studies are similar [FLOT - hazard ratio 0.75 (0.62-0.92); CROSS - 0.741 (0.55-0.98)].

KEY MESSAGES

Both nCT and nCRT have been shown to be associated with survival benefit compared to surgery alone. We have performed a comprehensive review of the available evidence to define the optimum treatment algorithm and identify specific patient sub-groups who may be appropriate for the use of one or more of these neoadjuvant options.

Current trends in perioperative treatment of resectable gastric cancer

In the last few decades, the treatment strategy for locally advanced resectable gastric cancer (GC) has shifted to a multimodal approach, which potentially decreases recurrence risk and improves survival rates. Perioperative therapy leads to downstaging, increased curative resection rates, and prolonged disease-free and overall survival, by preventing micrometastases in patients with resectable GC. Application of neoadjuvant therapy provides information about tumor biology and in vivo sensitivity. A consensus regarding the therapeutic approach for non-metastatic GC does not exist, and many clinical trials aim to clarify this aspect. Advances in precision medicine and the role of immunotherapy have been the focus of research in GC treatment. Herein, the current status and possible future developments of perioperative therapy for locally advanced resectable GC are reviewed, based on the most recent randomized clinical trials.

Recent Advances in the Systemic Treatment of Localized Gastroesophageal Cancer

The overall survival expectancy of localized gastroesophageal cancer patients still remains under 5 years despite advances in neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment strategies in recent years. For almost a decade, immunotherapy has been successfully implemented as a first-line treatment for various oncological diseases in advanced stages. In the case of advanced gastroesophageal cancer, 2021 witnessed several approvals of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies by different authorities. Although it is still a debate whether this treatment should be restricted to a certain subgroup of patients based on biomarker selection, immunotherapy agents are making remarkable steps in resectable settings as well. The Checkmate-577 study demonstrated significant benefits of nivolumab as an adjuvant treatment for resectable esophageal and gastroesophageal junction tumors and thereby obtained approvals both from U.S. American and European authorities. First results of further potential practice-changing clinical trials are expected in 2023, which might change the treatment armamentarium for resectable gastroesophageal cancers significantly. This review aims to demonstrate the advances of immunotherapy and targeted therapies in treatment of localized gastric, gastroesophageal junction and esophageal tumors and gives a short summary on promising ongoing clinical trials.

Energy Metabolism, Metabolite, and Inflammatory Profiles in Human Ex Vivo Adipose Tissue Are Influenced by Obesity Status, Metabolic Dysfunction, and Treatment Regimes in Patients with Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma

Oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) is a poor prognosis cancer with limited response rates to current treatment modalities and has a strong link to obesity. To better elucidate the role of visceral adiposity in this disease state, a full metabolic profile combined with analysis of secreted pro-inflammatory cytokines, metabolites, and lipid profiles were assessed in human ex vivo adipose tissue explants from obese and non-obese OAC patients. These data were then related to extensive clinical data including obesity status, metabolic dysfunction, previous treatment exposure, and tumour regression grades. Real-time energy metabolism profiles were assessed using the seahorse technology. Adipose explant conditioned media was screened using multiplex ELISA to assess secreted levels of 54 pro-inflammatory mediators. Targeted secreted metabolite and lipid profiles were analysed using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry. Adipose tissue explants and matched clinical data were collected from OAC patients (n = 32). Compared to visceral fat from non-obese patients (n = 16), visceral fat explants from obese OAC patients (n = 16) had significantly elevated oxidative phosphorylation metabolism profiles and an increase in Eotaxin-3, IL-17A, IL-17D, IL-3, MCP-1, and MDC and altered secretions of glutamine associated metabolites. Adipose explants from patients with metabolic dysfunction correlated with increased oxidative phosphorylation metabolism, and increases in IL-5, IL-7, SAA, VEGF-C, triacylglycerides, and metabolites compared with metabolically healthy patients. Adipose explants generated from patients who had previously received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 14) showed elevated secretions of pro-inflammatory mediators, IL-12p40, IL-1α, IL-22, and TNF-β and a decreased expression of triacylglycerides. Furthermore, decreased secreted levels of triacylglycerides were also observed in the adipose secretome of patients who received the chemotherapy-only regimen FLOT compared with patients who received no neo-adjuvant treatment or chemo-radiotherapy regimen CROSS. For those patients who showed the poorest response to currently available treatments, their adipose tissue was associated with higher glycolytic metabolism compared to patients who had good treatment responses. This study demonstrates that the adipose secretome in OAC patients is enriched with mediators that could prime the tumour microenvironment to aid tumour progression and attenuate responses to conventional cancer treatments, an effect which appears to be augmented by obesity and metabolic dysfunction and exposure to different treatment regimes.

Immunotherapy in the Management of Esophagogastric Cancer: A Practical Review

Recent data support incorporation of immune checkpoint inhibitors into the treatment armamentarium for esophageal, gastroesophageal junction, and gastric (esophagogastric) cancer. This practical review focuses on clinical trials that influenced US Food and Drug Administration approvals and treatment guidelines in esophagogastric cancer, including the impact of location, stage, histology, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status, and PD-(L)1 expression on these guidelines. The role of immunotherapy in the locally advanced and metastatic setting is constantly expanding. Over the next few years, the many ongoing trials exploring immunotherapy are anticipated to bring new treatment regimens into the frontline setting with the potential to improve survival in patients with advanced disease.

Neoadjuvant Strategies for Esophageal Cancer

Neoadjuvant strategies with multimodal therapy including chemotherapy and radiation are the standard of care in locally advanced esophageal cancer. The role of immunotherapy in the perioperative management of esophageal cancer is expanding, and adjuvant nivolumab for patients with residual disease following trimodality therapy has been shown to improve disease-free survival. Applications of checkpoint blockade and positron emission tomography (PET)-directed therapy in the neoadjuvant setting are under investigation in several clinical trials. We review the perioperative management of locally advanced esophageal cancer and recent evidence exploring the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors and PET in guiding neoadjuvant management.

The Oesophageal Cancer Multidisciplinary Team: Can Machine Learning Assist Decision-Making?

BACKGROUND

The complexity of the upper gastrointestinal (UGI) multidisciplinary team (MDT) is continually growing, leading to rising clinician workload, time pressures, and demands. This increases heterogeneity or 'noise' within decision-making for patients with oesophageal cancer (OC) and may lead to inconsistent treatment decisions. In recent decades, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and more specifically the branch of machine learning (ML) has led to a paradigm shift in the perceived utility of statistical modelling within healthcare. Within oesophageal cancer (OC) care, ML techniques have already been applied with early success to the analyses of histological samples and radiology imaging; however, it has not yet been applied to the MDT itself where such models are likely to benefit from incorporating information-rich, diverse datasets to increase predictive model accuracy.

METHODS

This review discusses the current role the MDT plays in modern UGI cancer care as well as the utilisation of ML techniques to date using histological and radiological data to predict treatment response, prognostication, nodal disease evaluation, and even resectability within OC.

RESULTS

The review finds that an emerging body of evidence is growing in support of ML tools within multiple domains relevant to decision-making within OC including automated histological analysis and radiomics. However, to date, no specific application has been directed to the MDT itself which routinely assimilates this information.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors feel the UGI MDT offers an information-rich, diverse array of data from which ML offers the potential to standardise, automate, and produce more consistent, data-driven MDT decisions.

Interventions targeting postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients undergoing esophageal cancer surgery: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials and narrative discussion

Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) represent the most common complications after esophageal cancer surgery. The lack of a uniform reporting nomenclature and a severity classification has hampered consistency of research in this area, including the study of interventions targeting prevention and treatment of PPCs. This systematic review focused on RCTs of clinical interventions used to minimize the impact of PPCs. Searches were conducted up to 08/02/2021 on MEDLINE (OVID), CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, and the COCHRANE library for RCTs and reported in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A total of 339 citations, with a pooled dataset of 1,369 patients and 14 RCTs, were included. Heterogeneity of study design and outcomes prevented meta-analysis. PPCs are multi-faceted and not fully understood with respect to etiology. The review highlights the paucity of high-quality evidence for best practice in the management of PPCs. Further research in the area of intraoperative interventions and early postoperative ERAS standards is required. A consistent uniform for definition of pneumonia after esophagectomy and the development of a severity scale appears warranted to inform further RCTs and guidelines.

[Surgical Treatment of Esophageal Cancer-New Technologies, Modern Concepts]

Das Ösophaguskarzinom wird in Deutschland meist in spezialisierten Zentren entsprechend den Leitlinien multimodal und interdisziplinär therapiert. In den kommenden Jahren wird die Zentralisierung der Ösophaguschirurgie in Deutschland durch die Festlegung neuer Mindestmengen weiter voranschreiten. Dieser Artikel soll neue Technologien für die chirurgische Therapie des Ösophaguskarzinoms und zudem aktuelle onkologische Konzepte aus der Sicht eines High-volume-Centers vorstellen.

Evaluation of tumor regression by neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens for esophageal adenocarcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinomas (EACs) are treated with multimodal therapy, namely surgery, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) depending on patient and tumor level factors. Yet, there is little consensus on choice of the optimum systemic therapy. To compare the pathological complete response (pCR) after FLOT, non-FLOT-based chemotherapy and chemoradiotherapy regimes in patients with EACs. A systematic review of the literature was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Review and Scopus databases. Studies were included if they had investigated the use of chemo(radio)therapy regimens in the neoadjuvant setting for EAC and reported the pCR rates. A meta-analysis of proportions was performed to compare the pooled pCR rates between FLOT, non-FLOT and CRT cohorts. We included 22 studies that described tumor regression post-NAC. Altogether, 1,056 patients had undergone FLOT or DCF regimes, while 1,610 patients had received ECF or ECX. The pCR rates ranged from 3.3% to 54% for FLOT regimes, while pCR ranged between 0% and 31% for ECF/ECX protocols. Pooled random-effects meta-meta-analysis of proportions showed a statistically significant higher incidence of pCR in FLOT-based chemotherapy at 0.148 (95%CI: 0.080, 0.259) compared with non-FLOT-based chemotherapy at 0.074 (95%CI: 0.042, 0.129). However, pCR rates were significantly highest at 0.250 (95%CI: 0.202, 0.306) for CRT. The use of enhanced FLOT-based regimens have improved the pCR rates for chemotherapeutic regimes but still falls short of pathological outcomes from CRT. Further work can characterize clinical responses to neoadjuvant therapy and determine whether an organ-preservation strategy is feasible.

PET-directed combined modality therapy for gastroesophageal junction cancer: Results of the multicentre prospective MEMORI trial of the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK)

BACKGROUND

Positron emission tomography (PET) may differentiate responding and non-responding tumours early in the treatment of locally advanced gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas. Early PET non-responders (P-NR) after induction CTX might benefit from changing to chemoradiation (CRT).

METHODS

Patients underwent baseline ¹⁸F-FDG PET followed by 1 cycle of CTX. PET was repeated at day 14-21 and responders (P-R), defined as ≥35% decrease in SUV_mean from baseline, continued with CTX. P-NR switched to CRT (CROSS). Patients underwent surgery 4-6 weeks post-CTX/CRT. The primary objective was an improvement in R0 resection rates in P-NR above a proportion of 70%.

RESULTS

In total, 160 patients with resectable gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas were prospectively investigated by PET scanning. Eighty-five patients (53%) were excluded. Seventy-five eligible patients were enrolled in the study. Based on PET criteria, 50 (67.6%)/24 (32.4%) were P-R and P-NR, respectively. Resection was performed on 46 responders, including one patient who withdrew the ICF, and 22 non-responders (per-protocol population). R0 resection rates were 95.6% (43/45) for P-R and 86.4% (19/22) for P-NR. No treatment related deaths occurred. With a median follow-up time of 24.5 months, estimated 18 months DFS was 75.4%/64.2% for P-R/P-NR, respectively. The estimated 18 months OS was 95.5% for P-R and 68.2% for P-NR.

CONCLUSION

The primary endpoint of the study to increase the R0 resection rate in metabolic NR was not met. PET response after induction CTX is prognostic for outcome with a prolonged OS and DFS in PET responders.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT00002014-000860-16.

Traitements péri-opératoires des adénocarcinomes œsogastriques localisés

Gastric cancer is the 6th most common cancer in the world. Gastric adenocarcinomas can be divided into two groups: gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas and distal gastric adenocarcinomas, with different risk factors and potentially different therapeutic strategies. Therapeutic strategy for esogastric adenocarcinoma is multimodal. Gastric adenocarcinomas are managed with surgery and peri-operative chemotherapy. Gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas can either be treated surgically after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy or in the same way than gastric adenocarcinomas. There is currently no evidence of superiority of either treatment strategy. Recently, nivolumab has been validated as an adjuvant therapy for patients with esophageal cancer who received preoperative chemoradiotherapy and had residual tumor on the surgical specimen. In the absence of preoperative treatment, adjuvant chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy should be discussed on a patient-by-patient basis. Currently, there is not indication for targeted therapies, nor for adapting postoperative treatment according to the response to preoperative treatment. The only validated indication for immunotherapy is as adjuvant treatment of esophageal cancer, but many studies are ongoing and may change practices in the future. The objective of this review is to synthesize the literature concerning the management of localized esogastric adenocarcinoma.