Abstract

Abstract Introduction Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is known to have a deleterious effect on the cardiorespiratory reserve of patients with oesophagogastric cancer[1,2]. A low anaerobic threshold is associated with increased morbidity after major surgery[3] The effect that FLOT (5FU, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, docetakel) chemotherapy has upon cardiopulmonary reserve has not been reported. This work aims to quantify this effect. Methods Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) was completed in 18 consecutive patients with oesophagogastric cancer who received FLOT chemotherapy. CPET pre-chemotherapy and 4-5weeks post-chemotherapy measured the ventilatory anaerobic threshold (AT) and peak oxygen uptake (Vo2p). Ventilatory equivalents for CO2 (Ve/VCO2) and total ventilation (Ve) were reported. The group mean change in these objective measurements of cardiopulmonary reserve was compared before and after FLOT. Results Between October 2018 and January 2019 eighteen patients (median age 58.1 years, 16/18 male) were tested before and after FLOT. In 14 patients (78%) a decline in AT and VO2p was demonstrated. A mean decrease in AT of 2.1 mlkg-1min-1 (14.9 Vs 12.8 mlkg-1min-1, p=0.02) and VO2p of 2.3 mlkg-1min-1 (20.6 vs 18.3 mlkg-1min-1, p=0.01) was seen after FLOT. Ve/VCO2 and Ve were unchanged. Conclusion Patients receiving FLOT chemotherapy demonstrate a clinically significant decrease in cardiorespiratory reserve. This appears to be similar to that observed in patients who have previously received neoadjuvant ECX (MAGIC regimen) [1,2,4]. Further investigation into the clinical impact of this observation is required.

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