Value of radiotherapy in addition to esophagectomy for stage II and III thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Analysis of surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database

To determine the value of radiotherapy in addition to esophagectomy for stage II and III TESCC. We searched the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database for all cases of stage II‐III TESCC. Patients were grouped as those receiving pre‐ or postoperative radiotherapy plus esophagectomy and those receiving esophagectomy alone. Overall survival (OS) and cancer‐specific survival (CSS) were compared between the groups. Among the 3292 patients, multimodality treatments (pre‐ or postoperative radiotherapy plus surgery) were more effective than surgery alone (5‐year, OS: 17.3% vs 7.9%; P < 0.001; CSS: 51.8% vs 34.9%; P < 0.001). Among the patients receiving multimodality treatments, multivariate analyses revealed stage to be the most significant prognostic factor for OS (II vs III, HR, 0.726; P < 0.001), but the sequence of radiotherapy and surgery was only of the marginal significance (pre‐ vs postoperative, HR, 0.875; P = 0.093). Preoperative radiotherapy provided significantly better survival than postoperative radiotherapy in stage III disease (5‐year, OS: 13.0% vs 11.0%, P < 0.04; CSS: 49.2% vs 31.7%, P < 0.003), but not in stage II disease (5‐year OS: 23.5% vs 21.0%, P = 0.519; CSS: 62.0% vs 53.4%, P = 0.075). Radiotherapy in addition to esophagectomy provides better outcomes than esophagectomy alone for in stage II‐III TESCC. Preoperative radiotherapy followed by surgery appears to be the optimal treatment strategy in stage III TESCC.

High grade neuroendocrine lung tumors: pathological characteristics, surgical management and prognostic implications

Among non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), large cell carcinoma (LCC) is credited of significant adverse prognosis. Its neuroendocrine subtype has even a poorer diagnosis, with long-term survival similar to small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Our purpose was to review the surgical characteristics of those tumors. The clinical records of patients who underwent surgery for lung cancer in two French centers from 1980 to 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. We more particularly focused on patients with LCC or with high grade neuroendocrine lung tumors. High grade neuroendocrine tumors were classified as pure large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (pure LCNEC), NSCLC combined with LCNEC (combined LCNEC), and SCLC combined with LCNEC (combined SCLC). There were 470 LCC and 155 high grade neuroendocrine lung tumors, with no difference concerning gender, mean age, smoking habits. There were significantly more exploratory thoracotomies in LCC, and more frequent postoperative complications in high grade neuroendocrine lung tumors. Pathologic TNM and 5-year survival rates were similar, with 5-year ranging from 34.3% to 37.6% for high grade neuroendocrine lung tumors and LCC, respectively. Induction and adjuvant therapy were not associated with an improved prognosis. The subgroups of LCNEC (pure NE, combined NE) and combined SCLC behaved similarly, except visceral pleura invasion, which proved more frequent in combined NE and less frequent in combined SCLC. Survival analysis showed a trend toward a lower 5-year survival in case of combined SCLC. Therefore, LCC, LCNEC and combined SCLC share the same poor prognosis, but surgical resection is associated with long-term survival in about one third of patients.