Application of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy in curative surgery for esophageal cancer: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of neoadjuvant therapy in esophageal cancer (EC) treatment is still a subject of debate. AIM: To compare the clinical efficacy and toxic side effects between neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT) for locally advanced EC (LAEC). METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted using multiple databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Science Direct, The Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database Article. Studies up to December 2022 comparing nCRT and nCT in patients with EC were selected. RESULTS: The analysis revealed significant differences between nCRT and nCT in terms of disease-free survival. The results indicated that nCRT provided better outcomes in terms of the 3-year overall survival rate (OSR) [odds ratio (OR) = 0.95], complete response rate (OR = 3.15), and R0 clearance rate (CR) (OR = 2.25). However, nCT demonstrated a better 5-year OSR (OR = 1.02) than nCRT. Moreover, when compared to nCRT, nCT showed reduced risks of cardiac complications (OR = 1.15) and pulmonary complications (OR = 1.30). CONCLUSION: Overall, both nCRT and nCT were effective in terms of survival outcomes for LAEC. However, nCT exhibited better performance in terms of postoperative complications.

Feasibility and strategy of common hepatic artery lymph node dissection in thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal squamous cell cancer.

Controversy about the adequate extent of lymph node (LN) dissection persists in surgery for thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The present study estimates the feasibility and strategy of common hepatic artery LN dissection during ESCC surgery.The clinical data of 482 patients with ESCC, who underwent thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy at Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, were retrospectively selected. Among the 482 ESCC patients, 224 patients underwent thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy with routine common hepatic artery LN dissection (cohort 1), while 258 patients underwent the same procedure without common hepatic artery LN dissection (cohort 2). The proposed operation method was introduced to safely dissect the common hepatic artery LN. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to analyze the clinicopathological factors correlated to the common hepatic artery LN metastasis.The main postoperative complications were pneumonia, anastomotic leakage, vocal cord palsy and cardiovascular disease. There was no significant difference in the incidence of major postoperative complications between the 2 cohorts (P >.05), and the incidence was similar in a number of reports. The metastatic rate of common hepatic artery LNs was 4.91%, which was relatively lower. Based on the logistic regression analysis of 5 factors, tumor location and T classification were risk factors for common hepatic artery LN metastasis (P <.05).Routine common hepatic artery LN dissection is safe and feasible during a thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy for ESCC. Although the metastatic rate is lower, common hepatic artery LN dissection should be performed for lower thoracic ESCCs, especially for tumors that invade the outer membrane.

[Thoraco-laparoscopic esophagectomy with two-field lymph node dissection for esophageal carcinoma: report of 150 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize early experience in combined thoraco-laparoscopic esophagectomy with two-field lymph node dissection for esophageal carcinoma. METHODS: A total of 150 patients with thoracic esophageal cancer who underwent combined thoracoscopic and laparoscopic esophagectomy in Union Hospital, Fujan Medical University, were enrolled in this study. RESULTS: Locations of the tumors included upper esophagus (n=14), middle esophagus (n=95), and lower esophagus (n=41). Pathological type showed squamous cell cancer (n=142) and other types of cancer (n=8). There was no intraoperative death. Conversion to open thoracotomy was required in 6 patients and conversion to open laparotomy in 2 patients. The average total operative time was( 258±45) min. The average operative thoracoscopic time was (140±33) min. The average time for gastric mobilization and neck esophagogastric anastomosis was (119±28) min. The average blood loss during the procedure was (207±130) ml. The average number of harvested lymph node with the specimen was 23.3±8.2. The tumor staging included stage I (n=39), II (n=58) and III (n=53). Postoperative complications occurred in 48(32%) patients including pneumonia (n=17), recurrent laryngeal injury (n=13), anastomotic leak (n=9), arrhythmias (n=9), chyle chest (n=5), delayed gastric emptying (n=5), ileus (n=2), volvulus (n=1), and thrombocytopenia (n=1). Two patients died postoperatively due to respiratory failure resulting from pneumonia. CONCLUSION: Thoraco-laparoscopic two-field lymph node dissection of esophageal cancer is a feasible minimally invasive approach.