Open AccessTreatment of thoracic esophageal carcinoma invading adjacent structures
Author(s) -
Seto Yasuyuki,
Chin Keisho,
Gomi Kotaro,
Kozuka Takuyo,
Fukuda Takashi,
Yamada Kazuhiko,
Matsubara Toshiki,
Tokunaga Masanori,
Kato Yo,
Yafune Akifumi,
Yamaguchi Toshiharu
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2007.00479.x
Subject(s) - medicine , esophageal cancer , chemoradiotherapy , neoadjuvant therapy , carcinoma , radiology , curative treatment , surgery , multimodal therapy , metastasis , cancer , oncology , radiation therapy , disease , breast cancer
T4 esophageal cancer is defined as the tumor invading adjacent structures, using tumor–node–metastasis (TNM) staging. For clinically T4 thoracic esophageal carcinoma, multimodality therapy, that is, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery or definitive CRT, has generally been performed. However, the prognosis of patients with these tumors remains poor. Another strategy is needed to achieve curative treatment. In the present article, the treatment strategies employed to date are reviewed. Furthermore, the strategies for these malignancies are reassessed, based on our experiences. R1/2 and R0 resections are regarded as those with residual and no tumor after surgery. The present data show that patients who underwent R1/2 resection after neoadjuvant CRT experienced little survival benefit, while complete response (CR) cases after definitive CRT had comparatively better results. Therefore, curative surgery should not be attempted without down‐staging, and definitive CRT should be the initial treatment. Then surgery is indicated for the eradication of residual cancer cells. Close surveillance is essential for early detection of relapse even after CR, because the operation will gradually become increasingly difficult due to post‐CRT fibrosis. In conclusion, multimodality therapy consists of definitive CRT followed by R0 resection, which can be the treatment of choice for T4 esophageal carcinoma. These challenging treatments have the potential to constitute the most effective therapeutic strategy. ( Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 937–942)