Esophageal Metal Stents with Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer: Safe or Not?

Oncologist. 2018 Dec;23(12):1426-1435. doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.2017-0646. Epub 2018 May 4.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to review the risks and benefits of concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) with esophageal self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) for the treatment of locally advanced esophageal cancer.

Materials and methods: Between January 2014 and December 2016, the data from 46 locally advanced esophageal cancer patients who received CCRT at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Eight patients who received CCRT concomitant with SEMS placement (SEMS plus CCRT group) and thirty-eight patients who received CCRT without SEMS placement (CCRT group) were identified. The risk of developing esophageal fistula and the overall survival of the two groups were analyzed.

Results: The rate of esophageal fistula formation during or after CCRT was 87.5% in the SEMS plus CCRT group and 2.6% in the CCRT group. The median doses of radiotherapy in the SEMS plus CCRT group and the CCRT group were 47.5 Gy and 50 Gy, respectively. SEMS combined with CCRT was associated with a greater risk of esophageal fistula formation than CCRT alone (hazard ratio [HR], 72.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8.62-606.12; p < .001). The median overall survival times in the SEMS plus CCRT and CCRT groups were 6 months and 16 months, respectively. Overall survival was significantly worse in the SEMS plus CCRT group than in the CCRT group (HR, 5.72; 95% CI, 2.15-15.21; p < .001).

Conclusion: CCRT concomitant with SEMS for locally advanced esophageal cancer results in earlier life-threatening morbidity and a higher mortality rate than treatment with CCRT alone. Further prospective and randomized studies are warranted to confirm these observations.

Implications for practice: Patients treated with SEMS placement followed by CCRT had higher risk of esophageal fistula formation and inferior overall survival rate compared with patients treated with CCRT alone. SEMS placement should be performed cautiously in patients who are scheduled to receive CCRT with curative intent.

摘要

背景。本次研究的目的是回顾分析同步放化疗(CCRT) 伴随食管自膨式金属支架 (SEMS)用于治疗局部晚期食管癌的风险和益处

材料和方法。2014年1月至2016年12月,回顾性分析了在我院接受CCRT的46名局部晚期食管癌患者的数据。共选择8名接受CCRT 伴随SEMS植入的患者(SEMS+CCRT组)和38名仅接受CCRT、未植入SEMS的患者(CCRT组)。分析了两组患者的食管瘘发生风险和总生存期

结果。在CCRT期间或之后,SEMS+CCRT组和CCRT组的食管瘘发生率分别为87.5%和2.6%。SEMS+CCRT组和CCRT组的中位放疗剂量分别为47.5 Gy 和50 Gy。与单纯CCRT治疗相比,SEMS联合CCRT会导致食管瘘形成风险升高[风险比 (HR), 72.30; 95% 置信区间(CI), 8.62–606.12; p<0.001]。SEMS+CCRT组和 CCRT组的中位总生存期分别为6个月和16个月。SEMS+CCRT组的总生存期显著低于CCRT组(HR, 5.72; 95% CI, 2.15–15.21; p<0.001)

结论。与单独采用CCRT治疗相比,CCRT伴随SEMS用于治疗局部晚期食管癌可导致更早发生危及生命的疾病和更高的死亡率。未来需要展开进一步前瞻性随机研究,以证实这些观察结果。

实践意义:与单独接受CCRT治疗的患者相比,接受SEMS植入伴随CCRT治疗的患者食管瘘形成的风险更高,总生存率也较低。对计划接受CCRT治疗以实现根治目的的患者,应慎用SEMS植入

Keywords: Concurrent chemoradiation therapy; Esophageal fistula; Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Self‐expandable metal stents.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / radiotherapy*
  • Chemoradiotherapy / methods
  • Combined Modality Therapy / methods*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Stents / standards*