79 Background: We investigated the efficacy and safety of adding cetuximab into twice-weekly paclitaxel/cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), followed by surgery, for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: Patients with operable ESCC (T3N0-1M0 or T1-3N1M0 or M1a) were treated with paclitaxel (35 mg/m2 1 h on days 1 and 4/week), cisplatin (15 mg/m2 1 h on days 2 and 5/week), cetuximab (400 mg/m2 2 h on day -5, then 250 mg/m2 2 h on day 3/week) and radiotherapy (2 Gy on days 1-5/week). When the accumulated radiation dose reached 40 Gy, the feasibility of esophagectomy was evaluated for all patients. In patients for whom esophagectomy was not feasible, CCRT was continued to a radiation dose of 60-66 Gy. Results: Sixty-two patients with ESCC were enrolled, and the majority had T3N1M0 or M1a tumors by endoscopic ultrasonographic staging (94%). All patients received CCRT to 40 Gy. Forty-three patients underwent surgery, and 17 patients continued definitive CCRT to 60-66 Gy. Of the scheduled doses of paclitaxel, cisplatin, and cetuximab, 80%, 79%, and 99% were given, respectively. The intent-to-treat pathological complete response rate was 24% (15/62) (95% confidence interval: 13-35%). At the median follow-up of 13.3 months, the one-year progression-free and overall survivals were 76% and 63%, respectively. The most common grade 3/4 toxic effects were leukopenia (51%), neutropenia (15%), esophagitis (19%), and infection (12%). Grade 1, 2, and 3 skin rash occurred in 59%, 36%, and 2% of patients, respectively. Grade 1, 2, 3, and 4 hypomagnesemia occurred in 14%, 5%, 0%, and 5% of patients, respectively. Conclusions: Adding cetuximab to twice-weekly paclitaxel/cisplatin-based CCRT prior to esophagectomy is an active and tolerable treatment for locally advanced ESCC. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Peer Review #1 of "Inflammation-based prognostic scores predict the prognosis of locally advanced cervical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients receiving curative concurrent chemoradiotherapy: a propensity score-matched analysis (v0.1)"
