The benefit of concurrent chemotherapy with radiotherapy for esophageal cancer is limited in Asian patients aged 80years or older: a SEER database analysis.

Abstract

To evaluate the benefit of concurrent chemotherapy with radiotherapy (RT) for esophageal cancer in Asian patients aged ≥ 80years using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Among more than 7000 patients with squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma who were treated by RT without surgery for esophageal cancer in the SEER database, 2047 patients aged ≥ 80years were analyzed. Patients who received chemoradiotherapy (CRT group) and patients who received RT alone (RT alone group) were matched with a propensity score. The median observation period for survivors was 57months. The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates in all patients were 15.2% and 8.5%, respectively. The 3-year and 5-year cause-specific survival rates in all patients were 20.8% and 14.5%, respectively. After propensity score matching, the overall survival rate in the CRT group was significantly higher than that in the RT alone group (5-year overall survival rates: 11.9% and 3.2%, respectively, p < 0.001). In 108 Asian or Pacific Islander patients, there was no significant difference (5-year overall survival rates: 13.5% and 0%, respectively, p = 0.291), although the overall survival rate in the CRT group was significantly higher than that in the RT alone group in any other race. It is controversial whether CRT is beneficial for Asian or Pacific Islander patients aged 80years or older with esophageal cancer based on Analysis of data in SEER database.