LONG-TERM RESULTS OF RESECTED ESOPHAGEAL CANCER WITH COMPLETE REMISSION TO PREOPERATIVE CHEMORADIATION

Introduction : Improvements of the results of combined chemoradiothera py (CRT) in esophageal cancer has led several groups to adopt a non su rgical attitude specially in case of complete response (endoscopy +/- biopsy). Few information are available about the follow-up of these pa tients. We studied long-term results of 35 patients who underwent rese ction after complete response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy. Patie nts and methods. 161 patients with resecable carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus have received the same protocol of CRT (cisplatin 80 mg/m(2 ), radiation therapy split course: 37,5 Gy) all patients were followed every for 4 months (no lost of view). Results: Complete response (end oscopy and biopsy) was obtained for 35 patients (21,7 %). 19 of them ( 54 %) had pathologic complete response (PCR) (no tumor in the specimen ), 16 have microscopic foci of residual tumor (46 %). The overall 5-ye ar survival rate was 49,8 % for the whole group (median survival 64 mo nths), 70 % for the group without tumor in the specimen, 48 % for the group with microscopic foci of residual tumor (NS). Conclusions: One h alf of the complete response (endoscopy + biopsy) have not a pathologi c complete response (microscopic foci of residual tumor in the specime n). The 49,8 % five year survival suggests a benefit from esophagectom y for complete response after combined chemoradiotherapy.