280 CONVERSION SURGERY FOR BORDERLINE T4 ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

Due to development of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, the possibility of surgical resection for borderlint T4 esophageal cancer that seems difficult to resect is emerging. We retrospectively examine the effects of conversion surgery in patients for esophageal cancer as part of multidisciplinary treatment. Methods We undergo 364 cases esophagectomy between Jan 2011 and Dec 2018, and of the 10 cases were diagnosed as borderline resectable esophageal cancer patients at first admission. These 10 cases were undergone conversion surgery after chemotherapy. We retrospectively examined preoperative and postoperative treatment and their prognosis. Results The chemotherapy regimens given above 10 cases were DCF (4cases) and FP (6 cases). Borderline target organs: Aorta (4 cases), Left main bronchus(6 cases), LN invasion to pancreas (1 case). R0 surgery was achieved in 8 of 10 cases, and the pathological response was G1a: 5 cases, G1b: 2 cases, G2: 3 cases. The median number of lymph node metastases is 3 (0–19), with recurrence in 6 cases, and the median time to recurrence is 7 months (2–21 months). Treatment was performed in all 6 cases after recurrence. Four patients had radiation therapy, but their prognosis was severe: 2 cases survived and 4 cases died. Conclusion Conversion surgery as a multidisciplinary treatment still can not provide a satisfactory prognosis, so additional treatment strategies including radiation and more effective utilization of other modalities are expected.

Clinical Outcomes of Radiotherapy in Elderly and Younger Patients with T4 Esophageal Cancer: A Retrospective Single-Center Analysis

Background/AimThe standard of treatment for esophageal cancer with adjacent organ invasion (T4) has not been established. Radiotherapy (RT) is a treatment option, but its efficacy and safety in elderly patients remains unclear. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical outcomes of RT in elderly and younger patients with T4 esophageal cancer.Materials and MethodsSixty-nine patients with T4 esophageal cancer who underwent RT at the Kanagawa Cancer Center between January 2014 and November 2020 were included in this study. Patients aged ≥70 years were defined as the elderly group and those aged <70 years were defined as the younger group.The total dose of RT was set at 60 Gy in 30 fractions. Chemotherapy combined with 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin was administered concurrently with RT. The overall survival (OS) rate was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Adverse events were assessed using the CTCAE v4.0. Clinical outcomes were compared between the elderly and younger groups.ResultsThe median survival time (MST) of the elderly group was 21.5 months, and the OS rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 63.7%, 31.3%, and 15.6%, respectively. The MST of the younger group was 12.5 months, and the OS rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 52.2%, 29.4%, and 29.4%, respectively. A significant difference in OS was not observed between the two groups (p = 0.767). Themultivariate analysis revealed thatthe complete response (CR) of the primary tumor and adjuvant chemotherapy (ACTx) were significant predictors of OS (p< 0.001 and<0.001, respectively). Regarding toxicity, the frequency of thrombocytopenia was significantly higher in the elderly group, whereas the frequency of esophageal fistula was significantly higher in the younger group (p = 0.012 and 0.022, respectively). Other toxicities were not significantly different between the two groups.ConclusionsOS was not significantly different between the elderly and younger groups. ACTx and CR were predictors of OS. The frequency of thrombocytopenia was higher in the elderly group and that of esophageal fistula was higher in the younger group. However, other toxicities were not significantly differentbetween the two groups.

Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair of Esophageal Cancer-Associated Aortoesophageal Fistula: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair of an aortoesophageal fistula is an effective emergency treatment for patients with T4-esophageal cancer, as it prevents sudden death, and is a bridge to surgery. However, the course of unresectable malignant aortoesophageal fistula treated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair alone is not well-known. Case Presentation. We report a 67-year-old Japanese man with T4-esophageal cancer who experienced a chemoradiation-induced aortoesophageal fistula and was rescued with thoracic endovascular aortic repair. He recovered after the procedure and survived for 4 additional months with management of a mycotic aneurysm and secondary aortoesophageal fistula with the exposure of the stent graft into the esophagus. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair of aortoesophageal fistula with T4-esophageal cancer extended life for nearly an average of 4 months in the reported cases. As a postoperative complication, the exposure of the stent graft into the esophagus is rare but life-threatening; the esophageal stent insertion was effective. Conclusions. With postoperative management advances, thoracic endovascular aortic repair can improve survival and increase the quality of life of patients with T4-esophageal cancer.