Treatment patterns and survival in advanced unresectable esophageal squamous cell cancer: A population-based study

M. Pape, P.A.J. Vissers, J. de Vos-Geelen, M.C.C.M. Hulshof, S.S. Gisbertz, P.M. Jeene, H.W.M. van Laarhoven, R.H.A. Verhoeven*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Data on treatment and survival of patients with advanced unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) from Western populations are limited. Here we describe treatment and survival in patients with advanced unresectable ESCC: patients with cT4b disease without metastases (cT4b), metastases limited to the supraclavicular lymph nodes (SCLNM) or distant metastatic ESCC at the population level. All patients with unresectable (cT4b) or synchronous metastatic ESCC at primary diagnosis (2015-2018) or patients with metachronous metastases after primary non-metastatic diagnosis in 2015-2016 were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Fifteen percent of patients had cT4b disease (n = 146), 12% SCLNM (n = 118) and 72% distant metastases (n = 681). Median overall survival (OS) time was 6.3, 11.2, and 4.4 months in patients with cT4b, SCLNM, and distant metastases, respectively (P < .001). Multivariable Cox regression showed that patients with cT4b (hazard ratio 1.44, 95% CI 1.04-1.99) and patients with distant metastases (hazard ratio 1.42, 95% CI 1.12-1.80) had a worse survival time compared with patients with SCLNM. Among patients who received chemoradiotherapy and/or underwent resection (primary tumor and/or metastases), median OS was 11.9, 16.1, and 14.0 months in patients with cT4b, SCLNM, and distant metastases, respectively (P = .76). Patients with SCLNM had a better survival time compared with patients with cT4b and patients with distant metastases. Survival of patients with advanced unresectable ESCC in clinical practice was poor, even in patients treated with curative intent.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1038-1046
Number of pages9
JournalCancer Science
Volume113
Issue number3
Early online date25 Jan 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2022

Keywords

  • distant metastases
  • esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
  • palliative treatment
  • supraclavicular lymph node metastases
  • unresectable advanced disease
  • NEOADJUVANT CHEMORADIOTHERAPY
  • METASTASES

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