Impact of pathologic complete response to preoperative docetaxel-based chemotherapy on disease-free survival in esophagogastric adenocarcinoma.

Abstract

123 Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of pathologic complete response (pCR) on outcome in patients with gastric or esophagogastric junction (EGJ) adenocarcinoma after treatment with preoperative docetaxel/platin /fluoropyrimidine based chemotherapy. Methods: This analysis of a prospective database identified patients who received at least one cycle of preoperative docetaxel/platin/fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy for at least T3/4 and N+ disease. An association of pretreatment clinicopathologic factors and pCR was investigated. Overall survival, disease-free survival and disease-specific survival were analyzed according to the achievement of a pCR. Results: A total of 120 patients received preoperative docetaxel-based chemotherapy and underwent subsequent resection of the primary tumor. 15 pts (13%) had distant metastases (M1) at initial diagnosis. 18 patients achieved a pCR in the primary (15%). Median follow-up was 41.1months. The median DFS and OS for the whole population was 24.1 and 48.6 months, respectively. DFS was significantly prolonged in pCR compared to non-pCR patients (HR 2.65, 95% CI 1.1- to 6.2; 3-year DFS probability: 71.8%±10.7 and 37.7%±5.1, respectively, P-value log-rank test=0.018). For patients with a pCR the median DFS was not reached and for those without pCR the median DFS was 22.1 months. Patients with a pCR showed an almost 50% decreased risk of death compared to non-pCR patients (HR 0.53; 95%CI 0.23 to 1.23; P=0.131). Disease-specific survival (DSS) was significantly longer in pCR vs. non-pCR patients (HR 0.188, 95%CI 0.046-to 0.77; P= 0.021). Two clinicopathological parameters were identified as predictors of pCR: tumor localization in the EGJ (p=0.019) and intestinal tumor type according to Laurén’s classification (p=0.042). Conclusions: The analysis confirms that pCR to neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a predictor of favourable patient outcome in patients with gastric or EGJ adenocarcinoma. Tumor location in the EGJ and intestinal histology represent factors significantly associated with the achievement of pCR.