Definitive Chemoradiotherapy Research Articles

Sotorasib versus pembrolizumab in combination with platinum doublet chemotherapy as first-line treatment for metastatic or locally advanced, PD-L1 negative, KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC (CodeBreaK 202).

TPS8653 Background: The 5-year progression free survival (PFS) rate of patients with metastatic, PD-L1 negative, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains poor, ranging from approximately 2% to 10% with standard immunotherapy-based treatment regimens. Based on promising anti-tumor activity in the phase 1 CodeBreaK 101 study, with partial responses observed in 62% (8/13) of PD-L1 negative patients in the first-line setting, we hypothesize that sotorasib plus platinum doublet chemotherapy will demonstrate durable clinical response and improved outcomes in this population. CodeBreaK 202 (NCT05920356) is a global phase 3 randomized study evaluating the efficacy of sotorasib versus pembrolizumab in combination with platinum doublet chemotherapy as first-line treatment for metastatic or locally advanced, PD-L1 negative, KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC. Methods: Patients will be randomized 1:1 to either sotorasib 960 mg once daily or pembrolizumab administered in combination with carboplatin and pemetrexed for 4 cycles, followed by maintenance treatment with sotorasib or pembrolizumab administered in combination with pemetrexed. Key eligibility criteria include treatment-naïve metastatic or locally advanced stage IIIB/C disease that is not amenable to definitive chemoradiation, PD-L1 <1% expression, presence of KRAS G12C mutation, non-squamous tumor histology, and absence of actionable genomic alterations such as EGFR mutations and ALK rearrangements. Patients with both treated and untreated brain metastases are eligible if clinically asymptomatic. The primary endpoint is PFS per RECIST v1.1 by blinded independent central review (BICR). Key secondary endpoints include overall survival and objective response rate. Exploratory endpoints include intra-cranial PFS per RANO-BM criteria. Approximately 750 patients are planned to be enrolled and recruitment began on November 18, 2023. Contact Amgen Medical Information for more information: medinfo@amgen.com . Clinical trial information: NCT05920356 .

Induction chemotherapy effects on very advanced (T3/T4) human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal cancer for participation in hypoxia-directed major de-escalation (30 Gy) definitive treatment trial.

6076 Background: De-escalation trials in human papillomavirus associated oropharyngeal carcinoma (HPV+ OPC) often exclude patients with very locally advanced disease. We previously demonstrated in a Phase II study that for patients with T1-T2 HPV+OPC that de-escalation to 30Gy of definitive chemoradiation based on lack of hypoxia on 18F-FMISO (fluoromisonidazole) PET (ROC Study) is associated with excellent outcomes (JNCI 2021; JCO 2024). Here, we hypothesized that induction chemotherapy (ICT) could be used in locally advanced (T3-T4) HPV+OPC to down-stage patients and make them eligible for de-escalation and simultaneously improve tumor hypoxia. Methods: We conducted a pilot study in HPV+ OPC patients with AJCC v7 T3-T4 and/or large volume N2b-N2c-N3 disease (i.e. pts ineligible for ROC Study (NCT03323563)). ICT – carboplatin (AUC2), paclitaxel (90 mg/m2), and cetuximab (250 mg/m2 after 400 mg/m2 loading dose) weekly for 6 weeks. To be eligible for de-escalation (ROC), after ICT, patients needed to be down-staged (<=T2). 18F-FMISO PET scan done prior to ICT, after ICT, and, if eligible for ROC study, about 2 weeks after start of radiation therapy. If an 18F-FMISO PET scan showed no hypoxia at any time point, no further scans necessary and patients received 30Gy of radiation therapy with 2 cycles of chemotherapy concurrently. Primary outcome is 2-year local control rate in 20 evaluable patients (description only in this pilot study). This abstract reports only on the outcomes of the ICT portion of the study. Results: 20 patients were accrued 3/2023-12/2023. Median age - 70 years old (46-88); Male – 95%; ECOG PS 0 – 80%. Tumor stage – T3 (70%); T4a (30%); N2b (70%); N2c (30%). All 20 patients had pretreatment hypoxia by 18F-FMISO. Of the 17 evaluable patients post ICT, 14 (82%) had no hypoxia on post ICT scan (other 3 still receiving ICT). Of 3 patients with hypoxia after ICT, 2 had resolution 2 weeks into radiotherapy, and 1 patient is still pending intra-treatment scan. All 17 evaluable patients had a significant enough of a response anatomically to allow treatment on the ROC Study. All patients to date were able to receive 2 cycles of cisplatin (100 mg/m2) without dose or treatment adjustment. Conclusions: Preliminary results suggest that ICT can allow more advanced tumors (T3/T4), that are typically excluded from de-escalation studies, to be de-escalated and may eliminate tumor hypoxia in a large proportion of cases, but a larger study is needed to confirm these results. Further followup of outcomes (2 year local control rate) is still needed. Clinical trial information: NCT05491512 .

Association of low adherence to weekly cisplatin with outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer treated with chemoradiation.

e18053 Background: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline recommends consideration of weekly cisplatin as an alternative option for patients with head and neck cancer undergoing definitive chemoradiation. However, in a recent phase III trial (ConCERT), 20% of patients treated with weekly cisplatin could not receive a total of 200 mg/m2, and the association of low adherence to weekly cisplatin and cancer control outcomes remains unclear. To fill this knowledge gap, we performed an observational cohort study of patients with head and neck cancer undergoing definitive chemoradiation with weekly cisplatin. Methods: Our institutional database at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center was queried for patients with non-metastatic head and neck cancer who underwent definitive chemoradiation with weekly cisplatin (40 mg/m2) between November 2007 and April 2023. Adherence to weekly cisplatin was defined as receiving at least 5 cycles with a total cumulative dose of 200 mg/m2. Survival outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank tests, Cox proportional hazard multivariable (MVA) analyses. Logistic MVA was performed to identify variables associated with low adherence to weekly cisplatin. Fine-Gray MVA was performed to analyze failure outcomes with death as a competing event. Results: Among 119 patients who met our criteria, 51 patients (42.9%) had low adherence to weekly cisplatin. Median follow up was 19.8 months (interquartile range 8.8-65.6). Low adherence to weekly cisplatin was associated with worse overall survival (adjusted hazards ratio [aHR] 2.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.58-5.47, p<0.001) and progression-free survival (aHR 2.32, 95% CI 1.29-4.17, p=0.005). It was also associated with worse distant failure (aHR 4.55, 95% CI 1.19-17.3, p=0.03), but not locoregional failure (aHR 1.61, 95% CI 0.46-5.58, p=0.46). KPS <90 was the only variable associated with low adherence to weekly cisplatin (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.67, 95% CI 1.10-6.65, p=0.03). Conclusions: Our study suggested that over 40% of patients underwent fewer than 5 weekly cisplatin cycles and that low adherence to weekly cisplatin was an independent, adverse prognostic factor for worse survival and distant failure outcomes. Those with reduced adherence to weekly cisplatin were more likely to have poor performance status. Further studies are warranted to improve the adherence to chemotherapy and outcomes.

Final analysis of the randomized phase 3 ESCORT-1st trial: Camrelizumab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

4055 Background: The ESCORT-1st trial (NCT03691090) was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial that aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of camrelizumab plus chemotherapy compared to placebo plus chemotherapy in previously untreated patients with advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Interim analysis of this trial showed significantly longer overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) with camrelizumab plus chemotherapy compared to placebo plus chemotherapy (Luo et al., JAMA, 2021). In this report, we present the final analysis of the efficacy and safety outcomes from the ESCORT-1st study, with an additional 1.5-year follow-up. Methods: A total of 596 eligible patients with previously untreated advanced or metastatic ESCC were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either camrelizumab 200 mg or placebo for up to 2 years, in combination with up to 6 cycles of paclitaxel and cisplatin. All treatments were administered intravenously every 3 weeks. Randomization was stratified based on the presence of liver metastases and previous definitive chemoradiotherapy. The primary endpoints of the study were OS and PFS as assessed by an independent review committee. The data cutoff for this final analysis was April 30, 2022. Results: At the data cutoff, the minimum follow-up period was 24 months, and no patients remained on the study treatment. Among the patients, 214 (71.8%) in the camrelizumab plus chemotherapy group and 250 (83.9%) in the placebo plus chemotherapy group had died. The camrelizumab plus chemotherapy group demonstrated a longer median OS compared to the placebo plus chemotherapy group (15.6 months [95% CI 14.0–18.4] vs 12.6 months [95% CI 11.2–13.8], HR 0.70 [95% CI 0.58–0.84]; one-sided P<0.0001). The 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year OS rates were 62.4% vs 51.7%, 35.9% vs 23.8%, and 25.6% vs 12.8% in the camrelizumab plus chemotherapy group and the placebo plus chemotherapy group, respectively. The median investigator-assessed PFS was also longer with camrelizumab plus chemotherapy compared to placebo plus chemotherapy (7.6 months [95% CI 6.9–8.3] vs 5.8 months [95% CI 5.6–6.6]; HR 0.54 [95% CI 0.45–0.65]; one-sided P<0.0001). No new safety signals were identified during the extended follow-up period. Conclusions: The extended follow-up of the ESCORT-1st trial reaffirms that camrelizumab plus chemotherapy provides significant and clinically meaningful improvements in OS and PFS compared to placebo plus chemotherapy, with a manageable safety profile for patients with untreated advanced or metastatic ESCC. These findings further support the use of first-line camrelizumab plus chemotherapy as the standard of care for these patients. Clinical trial information: NCT03691090 .

Acute Gastrointestinal Complications in the Era of Image Guided High Dose Rate Intracavitary Brachytherapy Following Definitive Chemoradiotherapy for Cervical Cancer

Acute Gastrointestinal Complications in the Era of Image Guided High Dose Rate Intracavitary Brachytherapy Following Definitive Chemoradiotherapy for Cervical Cancer

High versus standard radiation dose of definitive chemoradiotherapy combined with immunotherapy for inoperable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A multicenter propensity score matching analysis.

e16118 Background: There is no consensus of the radiation dose for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in the setting of definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) combined with immunotherapy. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of high-dose (HD) versus standard-dose radiotherapy (SD) for locally inoperable ESCC. Methods: Patients with locally advanced unresectable ESCC or advanced ESCC with supraclavicular lymph node metastases only who received high-dose (≥ 60Gy) or standard-dose (50-50.4Gy) radiation in dCRT combined with anti-PD-1 antibody as the first-line treatment from four academic cancer centers were enrolled. Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted to minimize the potential confounding effects. Results: Between March 2019 and July 2022, 328 patients were enrolled from four cancer centers in China, with 163 patients in the HD and 165 patients in the SD groups, respectively. The median follow-up time in the HD and SD groups were 28.9 and 25.9 months, respectively. There was no significant difference in overall survival (OS) (median OS: not reached in both, P = 0.080), progression-free survival (PFS) (median PFS: not reached vs. 30.3 months, P = 0.073), locoregional progression-free survival (LRPFS) and distant metastasis survival (DM) between the HD and SD groups. After 1:2 PSM, 156 patients in the HD and 78 patients in the SD groups were selected for further analyses. The results remained consistent and showed that the HD group had no significant benefits in OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.50-1.51, P = 0.624), PFS (HR = 0.79, 95%CI = 0.51-1.23, P = 0.300), LRPFS (HR = 0.75, 95%CI = 0.47-1.19, P = 0.228) and DM (HR = 1.05, 95%CI = 0.64-1.73, P = 0.849), compared with the SD group. In terms of failure patterns, the incidences of locoregional failure only (13.5% vs. 16.7%, P = 0.512), distant failure only (10.9% vs. 9.0%, P = 0.648) and synchronous locoregional and distant failure (2.6% vs. 6.4%, P = 0.164) were similar between two groups. No significant difference was found in the incidences of hematological toxicities, esophagitis, pneumonia (12.2% vs. 10.3%, P = 0.664) and fistula (7.1% vs 9.0%, P = 0.603) between the HD and SD groups. Conclusions: Compared with a radiation dose of 50-50.4Gy, the increase in radiation dose (≥60Gy) did not result in survival benefits for inoperable ESCC patients receiving dCRT combined with immunotherapy. Furthermore, similar failure patterns and toxicities were observed between the two treatment groups.

Multi-institution real world analysis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with standard of care (SOC) neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy (chemoIO).

8049 Background: The approval of neoadjuvant chemoIO transformed the treatment paradigm for patients (pts) with early-stage, resectable NSCLC. Here we present a multi-institution, real world analysis of pts treated with neoadjuvant chemoIO as SOC. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis performed across 3 academic institutions. Pts were eligible if they received neoadjuvant chemoIO as SOC therapy for NSCLC with intent to proceed to surgery. Results: 107 pts were included. Median age was 69 (range, 45-84); 47% were male and 83% were white. 84% were former/current smokers with median 35 pack year history. ECOG scores of 0/1/2 at treatment start were 55%/44%/1%, respectively. Histologies were 65% adenocarcinoma, 27% squamous, and 7% other. PD-L1 scores (in 93% of pts) were ≥ 50% in 30%, and median TMB (in 73% of pts) was 8.2 (range, 0-56). Of tumors with next generation sequencing (81%), 45% had KRAS mutation and 18% had other oncogenic driver present. Pts were clinical stage IB (0.9%), IIA (6%), IIB (24%), IIIA (60%), or IIIB (8%); 47% had N2 disease and 3% had N3. 78% of pts underwent ≥ 3 cycles of chemoIO, with most pts receiving carboplatin (70%). 11 pts (10%) experienced grade ≥ 3 immune-related adverse events, 72% of which were pre-op. 82 pts (77%) proceeded to surgical resection. Of those who did not undergo surgery, 68% were stage III. The most common reason for no surgery was progression (PD)/unresectability (52%), followed by operability (36%) and pt decision (8%). 2 pts (2%) proceeded to surgery but had unresectable tumors. Median interval between last cycle of induction and surgery was 43 days (d) (range, 17-210); median length of stay was 4d (range, 1-21). 5 of 79 (6%) were readmitted within 30d. For pts without resection (27), 48% underwent chemoradiation (CRT), 26% RT alone, and 15% systemic therapy. 29 tumors (36%) demonstrated major pathologic response (MPR); of these, 16 (20%) had pathologic complete response (pCR). 2 pts had no decrement in viable tumor. Of 79 pts with adjuvant treatment data, 11% underwent RT alone, in combination with chemo, or in sequence with systemic therapy; 8% were recommended for RT but declined. 24% had systemic treatment including 14% IO, 6% targeted therapy, and 4% chemo. 18/107 pts (17%) had PD; 14/18 had stage III disease. PD occurred in 10/25 pts (40%) who did not have surgery; 6 of those had undergone definitive CRT or RT. PD occurred in 8/82 pts (10%) after surgery; of these, 5 had undergone adjuvant treatment at median 58d (range, 33-103). Conclusions: Real world analysis demonstrated older, frailer pts with more advanced disease than those enrolled on trial; lower chemoIO completion rates but comparable pCR and resection rates were seen. Further analyses will focus on outcomes of pts who did not undergo surgery.

Definitive chemoradiotherapy induces T-cell-inflamed tumor microenvironment in unresectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) modulates the tumor immune microenvironment of multiple cancer types, including esophageal cancer, which potentially induces both immunogenicity and immunosuppression by upregulating the presentation of tumor-specific antigens and immune checkpoint molecules in tumors, respectively. The prognostic effects of immune modification by CRT in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain controversial because of the lack of detailed immunological analyses using paired clinical specimens before and after CRT. We aimed to clarify the immunological changes in the tumor microenvironment caused by CRT and elucidate the predictive importance of clinical response and prognosis and the rationale for the necessity of subsequent programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor treatment. In this study, we performed a comprehensive immunological analysis of paired biopsy specimens using multiplex immunohistochemistry before and after CRT in patients with unresectable locally advanced ESCC. CRT significantly increased the intra-tumoral infiltration and PD-1 expression of CD8+ T cells and conventional CD4+ T cells but decreased those of regulatory T cells and the accumulation of tumor-associated macrophages. Multivariate analysis of tumor-infiltrating T-cell phenotypes revealed that the density of PD-1+CD8+ T cells in the tumor after CRT could predict a confirmed complete response and favorable survival. This study showed that CRT improved the immunological characteristics of unresectable locally advanced ESCC and identified the density of PD-1+CD8+ T cells as a predictive factor for prognosis. This finding supports the rationale for the necessity of subsequent PD-1 inhibitor treatment.

ASO Author Reflections: Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy versus Definitive Chemoradiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Cervical Esophageal Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

ASO Author Reflections: Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy versus Definitive Chemoradiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Cervical Esophageal Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

Subtotal esophagectomy and concurrent reconstruction with free jejunal flap for primary esophageal cancer after pancreatoduodenectomy.

Pancreatoduodenectomy and subtotal esophagectomy are widely considered the most invasive and difficult surgical procedures in gastrointestinal surgery. Subtotal esophagectomy after pancreatoduodenectomy is expected to be extremely difficult due to complicated anatomical changes, and selecting an appropriate intestinal reconstruction method will also be a difficult task. Therefore, perhaps because the method is considered impossible, there have been few reports of subtotal esophagectomy after pancreatoduodenectomy. A 73-year-old man with a history of pancreatoduodenectomy was diagnosed with superficial thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Definitive chemoradiation therapy was recommended at another hospital; however, he visited our department to undergo surgery. We performed the robot-assisted thoracoscopic subtotal esophagectomy. There were some difficulties with the reconstruction: the gastric tube could not be used, the reconstruction was long, and the organs reconstructed in the previous surgery had to be preserved. However, the concurrent reconstruction was achieved with the help of a free jejunal flap and vascular reconstruction. All reconstructions from the previous surgery, including the remnant stomach, were preserved via regional abdominal lymph node dissection. After reconstruction, intravenous indocyanine green showed that circulation in the reconstructed intestines was preserved. On postoperative day 1, no recurrent nerve paralysis was observed during laryngoscopy. The patient could start oral intake smoothly 2weeks after surgery and did not exhibit any postoperative complications related to the reconstruction. The patient was transferred to another hospital on postoperative day 21. Owing to the free jejunal flap interposition method, we safely performed one stage subtotal esophagectomy and concurrent reconstruction, preservation of the remnant stomach, and pancreaticobiliary reconstruction in patients with a history of pancreatoduodenectomy. We believe that this method is acceptable and useful for patients undergoing complicated reconstruction.

Cemiplimab (Libtayo)

CADTH recommends that Libtayo in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy be reimbursed by public drug plans for the first-line treatment of adults with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumours have no EGFR, ALK, or ROS1 aberrations and is locally advanced where patients are not candidates for surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation, or for those with metastatic NSCLC, if certain conditions are met. Libtayo in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy should only be covered to treat adults who have stage IIIB or IIIC NSCLC and are not suitable for curative surgery or definitive chemoradiation or have stage IV NSCLC and have not received prior systemic treatment. Patients’ tumours should have no EGFR, ALK, or ROS1 Patients should have a good performance status. Libtayo should only be reimbursed in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy if prescribed by clinicians with expertise and experience in treating NSCLC. The treatment should be delivered in outpatient specialized oncology clinics with expertise in systemic therapy delivery and management of immunotherapy-related side effects. The price of Libtayo should be negotiated so that its use in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy does not exceed the total drug cost of treatment with the least costly immunotherapy reimbursed in the first-line setting.

Predictive Value of Pretreatment Hematological Parameters for Response to Definitive Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer: A Prospective Study

Background: More than 90% of cervical cancers are related to chronic inflammation caused by HPV. Several studies have shown that laboratory hematological parameters can detect the severity of systemic inflammation. Objectives: Our current cohort study investigated the predictive role of pretreatment hematological parameters for response to definitive chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). Methods: Prospectively, patients with LACC who candidates for definitive chemoradiation at Shohadaye Haftom-e-Tir and Firozgar Hospitals (Tehran, Iran) were included in our study between April 2021 and December 2022. Hematological parameters were obtained from the blood sample test and peripheral blood smear before treatment. All patients diagnosed in stage IB to IVA received a similar treatment protocol and follow-up. Patients were divided into complete clinical (CR) and non-complete clinical responses (Non-CR). Leukocyte, Lymphocyte, neutrophil, platelet, hemoglobin (Hb), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), were documented and then compared between two groups of responders. We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to investigate the predictive value of these hematological parameters. Results: Out of 34 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 25 (73/5%) patients were complete responders and 9 (26.5%) were non-complete responders. The average number of neutrophils, leukocytes, and NLR was significantly higher among Non-complete responders. Hemoglobin in patients with non-complete responses was significantly lower than that of the other group of responders. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the optimized cut-off values for pretreatment Hb and NLR were 11 and 2.1, respectively. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio cut-off point > 2.1 is significantly associated with larger tumor size, low Hb, high platelet, and high leukocyte. Conclusions: hematological markers such as NLR can be a simple and inexpensive predictive factor to evaluate therapeutic response to chemoradiation in LACC patients.

Standard versus fractionated high-dose cisplatin plus radiation for locally advanced head and neck cancer: Results of the CisFRad (GORTEC 2015-02) randomized phase II trial

BackgroundChemoradiotherapy with high-dose cisplatin (HD-Cis: 100 mg/m2 q3w for three cycles) is the standard of care (SOC) in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC). Cumulative delivered dose of cisplatin is prognostic of survival, even beyond 200 mg/m2 but high toxicity compromises its delivery. AimCisplatin fractionation may allow, by decreasing the peak serum concentration, to decrease toxicity. To date, no direct comparison was done of HD-Cis versus fractionated high dose cisplatin (FHD-Cis). MethodsThis is a multi-institutional randomized phase II trial, stratified on postoperative or definitive chemoradiotherapy, comparing HD-Cis to FHD-Cis (25 mg/m2/d d1-4 q3w for 3 cycles) in patients with LA-HNSCC. The primary endpoint was the cumulative delivered cisplatin dose. ResultsBetween December 2015 and April 2018, 124 patients were randomized. Median cisplatin cumulative delivered dose was 291 mg/m2 (IQR: 251;298) in the FHD-Cis arm and 274 mg/m2 (IQR: 198;295) in the HD-Cis arm (P = 0.054). The proportion of patients receiving a third cycle of cisplatin was higher, with a lower proportion of grade 3–4 acute AEs in the FHD-Cis arm compared to the HD-Cis arm: 81 % vs. 64 % (P = 0.04) and 10 % vs. 17 % (P = 0.002), respectively.With a median follow-up of 48 months (IQR: 41;55), locoregional failure rate, PFS and OS were similar between the two arms. ConclusionAlthough the primary endpoint was not met, FHD-Cis allowed more cycles of cisplatin to be delivered with lower toxicity, when compared to SOC. FHD-Cis concurrently with RT is a treatment option which deserves further consideration.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Improves Feasibility of Larynx Preservation and Prognosis in Resectable Locally Advanced Cervical Esophageal Cancer.

The optimal strategy for cervical advanced esophageal cancer remains controversial in terms of oncologic outcome as well as vocal and swallowing function. Recently, in East Asian countries, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has been a standard strategy for advanced esophageal cancer. This study included 37 patients who underwent NAC, and 33 patients who underwent definitive chemoradiation therapy (dCRT) as larynx-preserving treatment for locally advanced cervical esophageal cancer from 2016 to 2021. This study retrospectively investigated outcomes, with comparison between NAC and dCRT for locally advanced cervical esophageal cancer. Larynx preservation was successful for all the patients with NAC and dCRT. After NAC, the rate of complete or partial response was 78.4%, and 30 patients underwent larynx-preserving surgery. On the other hand, after dCRT, the complete response rate was 71.9%, and 4 patients underwent larynx-preserving salvage surgery. Overall survival (OS) and progression free survival were similar between the two groups. However, for the patients with resectable cervical esophageal cancer (cT1/2/3), the 2-year OS rate was significantly higher with NAC (79.9%) than with dCRT (56.8%) (P = 0.022), and the multivariate analyses identified only NAC and cN0, one of the two as a significantly independent factor associated with a better OS (NAC: P = 0.041; cN0, 1: P = 0.036). The study showed that NAC as larynx-preserving surgery for resectable cervical esophageal cancer preserved function and had a better prognosis than dCRT. The authors suggest that NAC may be standard strategy for larynx preservation in patients with resectable cervical esophageal cancer.

International Expert Consensus on Semantics of Multimodal Esophageal Cancer Treatment: Delphi Study

BackgroundRecent developments in esophageal cancer treatment, including studies exploring active surveillance following chemoradiotherapy, have led to a need for clear terminology and definitions regarding different multimodal treatment options.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to reach worldwide consensus on the definitions and semantics of multimodal esophageal cancer treatment.MethodsIn total, 72 experts working in the field of multimodal esophageal cancer treatment were invited to participate in this Delphi study. The study comprised three Delphi surveys sent out by email and one online meeting. Input for the Delphi survey consisted of terminology obtained from a systematic literature search. Participants were asked to respond to open questions and to indicate whether they agreed or disagreed with different statements. Consensus was reached when there was ≥75% agreement among respondents.ResultsForty-nine of 72 invited experts (68.1%) participated in the first online Delphi survey, 45 (62.5%) in the second survey, 21 (46.7%) of 45 in the online meeting, and 39 (86.7%) of 45 in the final survey. Consensus on neoadjuvant and definitive chemoradiotherapy with or without surgery was reached for 27 of 31 items (87%). No consensus was reached on follow-up after treatment with definitive chemoradiotherapy.Conclusion(s)Consensus was reached on most statements regarding terminology and definitions of multimodal esophageal cancer treatment. Implementing uniform criteria facilitates comparison of studies and promotes international research collaborations.

Efficacy of Shenglin decoction in preventing acute severe lymphocytopenia in patients with non-small cell lung cancer undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by maintenance therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors offers the best chance of cure for patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A significant challenge in this regimen is the occurrence of acute severe lymphopenia (ASL), which can compromise treatment efficacy. Currently, there are no effective strategies for preventing and treating ASL. Shenglin decoction (SLD), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine formulation, has demonstrated preliminary efficacy in mitigating ASL. However, robust evidence from clinical trials and a clear understanding of its mechanism of action are still needed. This study aims to comprehensively assess the efficacy, safety, and underlying mechanisms of SLD in the prevention of ASL. This prospective, dual-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial will enroll 140 stage III NSCLC patients. Participants will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to a control group or an experimental group. Both groups will undergo definitive CCRT. Alongside the commencement of CCRT, the experimental group will receive an additional oral SLD intervention for a duration of three months. The primary outcome is the incidence rate of ASL, defined as the proportion of patients who experience at least one instance of a total lymphocyte count falling below 0.5 × 10^9 cells/L within 3 months of initiating CCRT treatment. Additionally, 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis of fecal samples to assess gut microbiota, as well as metabolomic analysis of fecal/blood samples, will be conducted to explore potential mechanisms. This study protocol aims to rigorously evaluate the efficacy and safety of SLD, as well as elucidate its mechanism of action in preventing ASL. Successful outcomes could establish SLD as an evidence-based intervention for ASL prevention in NSCLC patients undergoing CCRT. The trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR2300071788, https://www.chictr.org.cn/).

Chemoradiotherapy versus surgery after neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in patients with stage III NSCLC: a real-world multicenter retrospective study

PurposeThe optimal treatment after neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy for patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unclear. This study aimed at comparing the efficacy and safety of chemoradiotherapy and surgery after neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in stage III NSCLC.Materials and methodsWe conducted a real-world multicenter retrospective study on patients with stage III NSCLC who received surgery or chemoradiotherapy after neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy between October 2018 and December 2022. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed from the initiation of neoadjuvant treatment and estimated by the Kaplan‒Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to examine potential prognostic factors. One-to-one propensity score matching (PSM) was used to further minimize confounding.ResultsA total of 239 eligible patients were enrolled, with 104 (43.5%) receiving surgery and 135 (56.5%) receiving CRT. After 1:1 PSM, 1- and 2-year PFS rates in patients receiving radical surgery (rSurgery group) vs. patients receiving definitive cCRT (dCCRT group) were 80.0% vs. 79.2% and 67.2% vs. 53.1%, respectively (P = 0.774). One- and 2-year OS rates were 97.5% vs. 97.4% and 87.3% vs. 89.9%, respectively (P = 0.558). Patients in the dCCRT group had a numerically lower incidence of distant metastases compared to those in the rSurgery group (42.9% vs. 70.6%, P = 0.119). The incidence of treatment-related adverse events was similar in both groups, except that the incidence of grade 3/4 hematological toxicity was significantly higher in the dCCRT group (30.0% vs. 10.0%, P = 0.025).ConclusionFollowing neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy, definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy may achieve noninferior outcomes to radical surgery in stage III NSCLC.

Primary chemoradiation versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery as treatment strategy for locally advanced vulvar carcinoma (VULCANize2)

BackgroundCurrent treatment options for patients with locally advanced vulvar cancer are limited and associated with high morbidity. Therefore, it is important to develop new and safe treatment strategies for this...

Clinical significance of the advanced lung cancer inflammation index in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy

The aim of the study was to investigate the prognostic significance of the advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) in patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) undergoing definite chemo-radiotherapy (CRT). We included 87 patients with LS-SCLC from South Korea, treated between 2005 and 2019 with definite CRT. ALI was calculated using body mass index, serum albumin, and neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio. We categorized 38 patients into the high ALI group (ALI ≥ 44.3) and 48 into the low ALI group (ALI < 44.3). Patients in the high ALI group exhibited longer overall survival (OS) than patients in the low ALI group. In multivariate analysis, prophylactic cranial irradiation (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.366, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20–0.66, P = 0.0008), and high ALI (HR = 0.475, 95% CI 0.27–0.84, P = 0.0103) were identified as independent prognostic factors for predicting better OS. Notably, a high ALI score was particularly indicative of longer survival in patients treated with the combination of etoposide and cisplatin. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that a high pretreatment ALI was significantly associated with better OS in patients with LS-SCLC undergoing definite CRT. This suggests that ALI could be a useful tool for predicting prognosis and guiding chemotherapy regimen selections in clinical practice for LS-SCLC.

Postoperative Lymph Node Recurrence in Esophageal Cancer After Surgery and Prognosis of Chemoradiotherapy.

This study aimed to evaluate the long-term prognosis of definitive chemoradiotherapy and clinical features of postoperative lymph node (LN) recurrence after curative resection of thoracic esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). A total of 586 patients who underwent radical resection of ESCC at the Hiroshima University Hospital from January 2000 to December 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. This study analyzed the clinical characteristics of 54 patients who developed recurrence in a solitary LN by comparing them to 182 patients who experienced total recurrence. Additionally, we analyzed the prognostic factors of 50 patients who received chemo-radiotherapy (CRT). The results revealed a tendency for a higher incidence of solitary LN recurrence in cases of early esophageal cancer and upper thoracic esophageal cancer among all recurrence cases. The 3-, 5-, and 7-year overall survival (OS) rates were 40.5%, 37.8% and 34.6%, respectively, with a median survival time of 27.9 months. Univariate analysis of OS factors, such as age, depth of the primary tumor at the initial surgery, time to LN recurrence after surgery, site of LN recurrence, and the number of the regional LNs with recurrence showed no significant impact on OS. Approximately 35% of patients with ESCC who experienced LN recurrence after curative resection achieved long-term survival through CRT. Despite the absence of identifiable prognostic factors, CRT proves to be a valuable initial treatment option for LN recurrence.