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Chemo-radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Oesophageal Cancer—are Upper Third Tumours more Responsive?

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Pathology & Oncology Research

Abstract

Before neoadjuvant therapy was widely applied, the prognosis of oesophageal cancer had been considered dependent on the location of the tumor, i.e. upper third cancers had had the worst prognosis. The aim of this retrolective study was to prove the efficiency of the neoadjuvant treatment, and to compare the response of esophageal cancer in different locations. Between January 1998 and September 2005, 102 patients with locally advanced squamous cell oesophageal cancer received preoperative chemo-radiotherapy. In 40 cases the tumor was located in the upper third and in 62 cases in the middle third of the oesophagus. After a four-week-long treatment free period restaging was carried out and patients considered resectable were submitted to surgery. From 40 patients with upper third oesophageal cancer 28 underwent oesophageal resection or pharyngo-laryngectomy. Thiry-five percent a complete histopathological remission was observed. From 62 patients with middle third oesophageal cancer 43 underwent oesophageal resection. Histological examination of the resected specimens documented complete response only in three patients. The median survival and the R0 resection rate were similar in the two groups. Although the resection rate, perioperative morbidity, mortality and the median survival were similar in the two groups, a significantly higher rate of complete response (p < 0,05) was observed in patients with upper third oesophageal cancer compared to patients with middle third oesophageal cancer. It seems that upper third oesophageal cancer has superior sensitivity to multimodal treatment therefore our results may support that upper third location is not an unfavorable prognostic factor any more.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Medical Faculty, University of Pécs, Hungary, Ifjusag u.13, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary

    Andras Papp, Laszlo Cseke, Gabor Pavlovics, Gabor Varga, Katalin Kalmar, Andras Vereczkei & Ors Peter Horvath

  2. Department of Oncotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Pécs, Hungary, Édesanyák útja 17, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary

    Robert Farkas, Andras Szigeti, Szabolcs Bellyei & Eva Pozsgai

  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, The Johns Hopkins Medicine International, Tawam Medical Center, Al Ain, 1 Tawam Street, Abu Dhabi, P. O. Box 15258, UAE

    Gabor Horvath

  4. Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Therapy, Medical Faculty, University of Pécs, Hungary, Ifjusag u.13, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary

    Sandor Marton

  5. Institute of Bioanalysis, Medical Faculty, University of Pécs, Hungary, Honvéd utca 1, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary

    Laszlo Poto

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  1. Andras Papp
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  2. Laszlo Cseke
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  14. Ors Peter Horvath
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Correspondence to Andras Papp.

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Papp, A., Cseke, L., Farkas, R. et al. Chemo-radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Oesophageal Cancer—are Upper Third Tumours more Responsive?. Pathol. Oncol. Res. 16, 193–200 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-009-9206-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-009-9206-5

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