Increased SOX9 Expression in Premalignant and Malignant Pancreatic Neoplasms.

BACKGROUND: SOX9, a progenitor cell marker, is important for pancreatic ductal development. Our goal was to examine SOX9 expression differences in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) compared with benign pancreatic duct (BP). METHODS: SOX9 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry performed on 93 specimens: 37 BP, 24 low grade (LG) IPMN, 12 high grade (HG) IPMN, and 20 PDAC. A linear mixed-effects model was used to compare the percentage of cells expressing SOX9 by specimen type. A separate linear mixed-effects model evaluated differences in SOX9 expression by staining intensity in pancreatic epithelial cells. RESULTS: Nuclear SOX9 expression was detected in the epithelial cells of 98% HG IPMN, 93% LG IPMN, 83% PDAC, and 60% BP. Compared with BP, SOX9 was expressed from a significantly greater percentage of cells in LG IMPN, HG IMPN, and PDAC (p < 0.001 for each). BP and PDAC showed greater variability in SOX9 expression in epithelial cells compared with IPMNs which showed strong, homogenous SOX9 expression in almost all cells. Compared with BP, both LG and HG IPMN showed significantly greater SOX9 expression (p < 0.001 for each), but there was no significant difference in SOX9 expression between LG and HG IPMN (p > 0.05). PDAC had significantly higher expression of SOX9 compared with BP but significantly lower SOX9 expression compared with LG or HG IPMN (p < 0.001 for each). CONCLUSIONS: IPMNs demonstrated the highest expression levels of SOX9. SOX9 expression in BP and PDAC demonstrated much more heterogeneity compared with the strong, uniform expression in IPMN.

Impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid Expansion on Cancer Admissions and Surgeries.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the trends in cancer (CA) admissions and surgeries after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion. METHODS: This is a retrospective study using HCUP-SID analyzing inpatient CA (pancreas, esophagus, lung, bladder, breast, colorectal, prostate, and gastric) admissions and surgeries pre- (2010-2013) and post- (2014) Medicaid expansion. Surgery was defined as observed resection rate per 100 cancer admissions. Nonexpansion (FL) and expansion states (IA, MD, and NY) were compared. A generalized linear model with a Poisson distribution and logistic regression was used with incidence rate ratios (IRR) and difference-in-differences (DID). RESULTS: There were 317, 858 patients in our sample which included those with private insurance, Medicaid, or no insurance. Pancreas, breast, colorectal, prostate, and gastric CA admissions significantly increased in expansion states but decreased in nonexpansion states. (IRR 1.12, 1.14, 1.11, 1.34, 1.23; P < .05) Lung and colorectal CA surgeries (IRR 1.30, 1.25; P < .05) increased, while breast CA surgeries (IRR 1.25; P < .05) decreased less in expansion states. Government subsidized, or self-pay patients had greater odds of undergoing lung, bladder, and colorectal CA surgery (OR 0.45 vs 0.33; 0.60 vs 0.48; 0.47 vs 0.39; P < .05) in expansion states after reform. CONCLUSIONS: In states that expanded Medicaid coverage under the ACA, the rate of surgeries for colorectal and lung CA increased significantly, while breast CA surgeries decreased less. Parenthetically, these cancers are subject to population screening programs. We conclude that expanding insurance coverage results in enhanced access to cancer surgery.

Peri-operative epidural may not be the preferred form of analgesia in select patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Epidural analgesia has become the preferred method of pain management for major abdominal surgery. However, the superior form of analgesia for pancreaticoduodenecomy (PD), with regard to non-analgesic outcomes, has been debated. In this study, we compare outcomes of epidural and intravenous analgesia for PD and identify pre-operative factors leading to early epidural discontinuation. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on 163 patients undergoing PD between 2007 and 2011. We performed regression analyses to measure the predictive success of two groups of analgesia on morbidity and mortality and to identify predictors of epidural failure. RESULTS: Intravenous analgesia alone was given to 14 (9%) patients and 149 patients (91%) received epidural analgesia alone or in conjunction with intravenous analgesia. Morbidity and mortality were not significantly different between the two groups. Early epidural discontinuation was necessary in 22 patients (15%). Those older than 72 and with a BMI < 20 (n = 5) had their epidural discontinued in 80% of cases compared to 12% not meeting these criteria. However, early epidural discontinuation was not associated with increased morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSION: Epidural analgesia may be contraindicated in elderly, underweight patients undergoing PD given their increased risk of epidural-induced hypotension or malfunction.

Do high-volume centers mitigate complication risk and reduce costs associated with performing pancreaticoduodenectomy in ethnic minorities?

INTRODUCTION: Few studies examine the impact of ethnicity on post-operative outcomes and costs associated with pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). METHODS: Multivariable regression (MVR) was used to perform a risk-adjusted comparison of patients within the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Databases undergoing PD. RESULTS: 4742 patients underwent PD. 3871 (81%) were white, 456 (10%) black, and 415 (9%) Hispanic. Black and Hispanics were less likely than whites to undergo PD in high volume centers. Blacks and Hispanics had a higher risk of select post-operative complications, prolonged lengths of stay, and high-cost outliers. When PDs done in high volume centers were evaluated separately, blacks and Hispanics had a lower adjusted-risk of any serious morbidity (OR 0.44, 95% CI [0.33, 0.57], OR 0.56, 95% CI [0.43, 0.73]) than whites but costs for PD among the three ethnic groups were statistically identical. CONCLUSION: Racial and ethnic minorities undergoing PD are less likely to receive care at high-volume centers, are at an increased risk of post-operative morbidity, and have higher odds of being high-cost outliers than NHW.

Non-Hispanic Blacks undergoing distal pancreatectomy have higher risk-adjusted rates of morbidity and are more likely to be high-cost outliers.

BACKGROUND: Few studies evaluate racial disparities in costs and clinical outcomes for patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy (DP). METHODS: We queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases to identify patients undergoing DP. Multivariable regression (MVR) was used to evaluate the association between race and postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: 2,493 patients underwent DP; 265 (10%) were black, and 221 (8%) were of Hispanic ethnicity. On MVR, black and Hispanic patients were less likely than whites to undergo surgery in high volume centers (OR 0.53, 95% CI [0.40, 0.71]; OR 0.45, 95% CI [0.32, 0.62]). Black patients had a greater risk of postoperative complication (OR 1.40, 95% CI [1.07, 1.83]), 90-day readmission (OR 1.53, 95% CI [1.15, 2.02]), prolonged length of stay (OR 1.74, 95% CI [1.25-2.44]), and of being a high cost outliers (OR 1.40, 95% CI [1.02, 1.91]) compared to white patients. CONCLUSION: Black patients have increased risk of having a postoperative complication, prolonged hospitalization, and of being a high-cost outlier than non-Hispanic whites.

Heparin-coated stents do not protect cancer patients from cardiac complications after noncardiac surgery.

Previous studies regarding preoperative coronary stents and antithrombotic agents have excluded patients with cancer as a result of hypercoagulability. The objective of this study is to determine whether preoperative heparin-coated coronary stents are as safe in patients with cancer undergoing surgery as patients without cancer. Between February 2003 and February 2005, 29 patients had heparin-coated coronary stents placed before noncardiac surgery. The incidence of postoperative myocardial infarction (MI) and/or death was compared in patients with and without cancer, and outcomes were further evaluated based on preoperative antithrombotic status. Postoperative MI occurred in three of 13 (23%) patients with cancer compared with zero of 16 noncancer patients. Patients with cancer were 9.6 times more likely to have a postoperative MI resulting in death compared with noncancer patients. There was a positive correlation between patients having cancer and having a postoperative MI (r = 0.38, P = 0.044) and between patients with cancer being on antithrombotic medications during surgery and having a postoperative MI (r = 0.567, P = 0.044). After stent placement, patients with cancer undergoing surgery experienced a higher incidence of postoperative MI resulting in death compared with noncancer patients despite continued antithrombotic use. In these patients, alternatives to stenting should be considered to avoid perioperative cardiac complications.

Four hundred fifty-three consecutive pancreaticoduodenectomies with pancreaticogastrostomy.

BACKGROUND: Patients who undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) have the pancreatic remnant (PR) anastomosed to the jejunum. In this study, all patients had the PR anastomosed to the stomach. Our aims are to evaluate postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing PD with pancreaticogastrostomy (PG). METHODS: There was 453 patients who underwent PD with PG. Preoperative characteristics, intraoperative data, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed using univariate and multivariate models. RESULTS: The patient cohort had a median age of 67 years and underwent resection for pancreatic (40.8%), ampullary (15.9%), duodenal (6.6%), distal bile duct (6.4%) cancers. Multivariate analysis revealed poor prognosis was related to age, tumor diameter, lymph node ratio, perineural invasion, and tumor differentiation in patients with periampullary adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: This series of patients undergoing PD with PG shows that the operation can be performed safely with excellent outcomes for a variety of malignant and benign conditions.

The laparoscopic approach to distal pancreatectomy is a value-added proposition for patients undergoing care in moderate-volume and high-volume centers.

BACKGROUND: Little is known regarding the impact of the minimally invasive approach to distal pancreatectomy on the aggregate costs of care for patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy. METHODS: We queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database to identify patients undergoing elective laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy or open distal pancreatectomy between 2012 and 2014. Multivariable regression was used to evaluate postoperative outcomes including readmissions to 90 days after distal pancreatectomy. RESULTS: A total of 267 (11%) patients underwent laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy, and a total of 2,214 (89%) underwent open distal pancreatectomy. On multivariable regression, patients undergoing laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy had a decreased odds risk of having any severe adverse outcome (odds ratio 0.73, 95% confidence interval [0.54-0.97]), prolonged length of stay (odds ratio 0.49, 95% confidence interval [0.30-0.79]), and of being in the highest quartile for aggregate costs of care (odds ratio 0.46, 95% confidence interval [0.32-0.66]) relative to those undergoing open distal pancreatectomy. Patients undergoing laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy had a lower average 90-day aggregate cost of care than those undergoing open distal pancreatectomy when procedures were performed in high-volume (-$16,153, 95% CI: [-$23,342 to -$8,964]) centers. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy have a lower risk of severe adverse outcomes, prolonged overall length of stay, and lower associated costs of care relative to those undergoing open distal pancreatectomy. This association is independent of hospital volume.

The laparoscopic approach to pancreatoduodenectomy is cost neutral in very high-volume centers.

BACKGROUND: Little is known regarding the impact of minimally invasive approaches to pancreatoduodenectomy on the aggregate costs of care for patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy. METHODS: We queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database to identify patients undergoing elective laparoscopic or open pancreatoduodenectomy between 2014 and 2016. RESULTS: In this database, 488 (10%) patients underwent elective laparoscopic; 4,544 (90%) underwent open pancreatoduodenectomy. On adjusted analysis, the risk of perioperative morbidity and overall duration of hospitalization for patients undergoing elective laparoscopic were identical to those for patients undergoing open pancreatoduodenectomy. Patients undergoing elective laparoscopic in low (+$10,399, 95% confidence interval [$3,700, $17,098]) and moderate to high (+$4,505, 95% confidence interval [$528, $8,481]) volume centers had greater costs than those undergoing open pancreatoduodenectomy in the same centers. In very high-volume centers (>127 pancreatoduodenectomies/year), aggregate costs of care for patients undergoing elective laparoscopic were essentially identical to those undergoing open pancreatoduodenectomy in the same centers (+$815, 95% confidence interval [-$1,530, $3,160]). CONCLUSION: Rates of morbidity and overall duration of hospitalization for patients undergoing elective laparoscopic are not different than those undergoing open pancreatoduodenectomy. At low to moderate and high-volume centers, elective laparoscopic is associated with greater aggregate costs of care relative to open pancreatoduodenectomy. At very high-volume centers, elective laparoscopic is cost-neutral.

The role of extended lymphadenectomy for adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas: strength of the evidence.

With improvements in the safety of Whipple resection in recent decades, surgeons have continued to explore the role of more extensive lymphadenectomy in hope of improving long-term survival. A systematic literature search of level I evidence addressing the role of the extent of lymphadenectomy was undertaken. Only reports of prospective, randomized controlled trials comparing pancreaticoduodenectomy with standard lymphadenectomy to pancreaticoduodenectomy with extended lymphadenectomy where information regarding survival, morbidity, mortality, the number of resected lymph nodes in each group and detailed operative technique were included. Four prospective, randomized trials comprising some 424 patients and one meta-analysis were identified. In aggregate, these studies confirmed that the number of resected lymph nodes was significantly higher in the pancreaticoduodenectomy with extended lymphadenectomy group. Morbidity and mortality rates were comparable. Postoperative diarrhea in the early months after operation was problematic in patients undergoing extended lymphadenectomy. In none of the studies was a benefit in long-term survival demonstrated. Standard pancreaticoduodenectomy continues to be the operation of choice for adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas.

What are the predictors that can help identify safe removal of drains following pancreatectomy?

BACKGROUND: The management of a drain after Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) and distal pancreatectomy (DP) remains a controversial issue. Our aim in this study was to identify a safe time for drain removal. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study, of a prospective database, of patients who underwent a PD or DP at two tertiary care institutions. RESULTS: A total of 180 patients underwent PD and DP during the observation period. Seventeen patients developed fistulas (9.4%), with 70.6% (n = 12) developing in soft pancreatic remnants vs. 29.4% (n = 5) in firm pancreatic remnants. Patients with amylase levels greater than 173 U/L on a postoperative day three were 11.46 times more likely to form a fistula compared to those with an amylase level at or below 173 U/L (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Fistula formation is associated with pancreas texture, duct size, and drain amylase following PD or DP. Patients with firm pancreatic texture and large ducts are less likely to develop fistulas than those with soft pancreatic texture and small ducts.

Current management of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic fistula (PF) is a major and serious complication following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). The purpose of this study was to outline our management of PF after PD. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database of 396 patients undergoing PD for various indications at Loyola University Medical Center and Hines Veterans Administration Hospital from July 1, 1990, to December 31, 2005. Patients were divided group 1 (no PF) and group 2 (PF). Each group was compared regarding preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: Of the patients included in the study, 65 patients (16%) developed a PF. PF was more common after PD for ampullary neoplasms (28%), duodenal neoplasms (35%), and serous cystic neoplasms (44%), and was uncommon after PD for pancreatic cancer (6%). Associated complications with PF was 51% when compared with patients with no PF (21%; P

Critical analysis of a large series of pancreaticogastrostomy after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

HYPOTHESIS: Pancreaticogastrostomy is a safe operation for a variety of periampullary conditions. DESIGN: Retrospective review of a prospectively collected database. SETTING: An academic tertiary care university hospital and a Veterans Affairs hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 235 consecutive patients who underwent pancreaticogastrostomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Indications for surgery, preoperative risk factors, intraoperative and postoperative variables, and factors that affect postoperative complications. RESULTS: The most common initial symptoms were jaundice (73.2%), weight loss (23.8%), and abdominal pain (17.0%). The 4 most common indications for surgery were pancreatic adenocarcinoma (41.3%), ampullary carcinoma (17.0%), duodenal carcinoma (7.2%), and chronic pancreatitis (7.2%). The median operating time was 6.5 hours. Median blood loss was 900 mL. The median intraoperative blood transfusion was 0 U. The median postoperative length of stay was 9 days. Postoperative mortality was 0.9%. The most common complications were pancreatic fistulae (13.6%), 1 of which was thought to cause 1 of 2 mortalities in this series. Pancreatic fistulae developing after pancreaticogastrostomy were significantly related to a low preoperative alkaline phosphatase level and surgery for nonpancreatic pathologic findings. The presence of a fistula significantly increased the postoperative length of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreaticogastrostomy is a safe operation associated with low mortality and morbidity rates and a pancreatic fistula rate of 13.6%. It should be considered as a suitable alternative for management of the pancreatic remnant after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy is curative in the majority of patients with node-negative ampullary cancer.

HYPOTHESIS: Survival following resection for ampullary carcinoma may be influenced by 1 or more clinical or pathologic variables. DESIGN: Retrospective medical records review. SETTING: Academic tertiary care center. PATIENTS: From July 1, 1991, through April 30, 2004, 72 patients (31 males and 41 females) were treated for ampullary carcinoma at Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Ill. Of these, 51 patients who underwent potentially curative pancreaticoduodenectomy were studied. INTERVENTIONS: Whipple procedure for attempted cure in 51 patients with ampullary adenocarcinoma. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The effects of clinical and pathologic factors on disease-specific survival were analyzed using log-rank and a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The median age of the 51 patients (25 males and 26 females) was 69 years (age range, 38-90 years). Median operative time was 6 hours (range, 4-12 hours), and median estimated blood loss was 800 mL (range, 350-7500 mL). Thirty-day mortality was 2% (1 of 51 patients). Twenty-seven had node-negative disease, 34 cases were T1/T2, and 23 were well differentiated. Median follow-up for patients still alive was 42 months (range, 2-147 months); overall 5-year disease-specific survival was 58%. Five-year survival was 78% (21/27) in node-negative patients, 73% (25/34) for T1/T2 patients, and 76% (17/23) for well-differentiated tumors compared with 25% for node-positive, 8% for T3/T4, and 36% for poorly or moderately differentiated tumors (P<.01). On multivariate analysis, only node-negative disease maintained significance (hazard ratio, 5.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-21.9). In all groups, there were no deaths due to disease after 3 years of survival was reached. CONCLUSION: Pancreaticoduodenectomy is curative in 80% of patients with node-negative ampullary carcinomas. Once 3-year survival is reached, long-term survival can be expected.

Nonstandard pancreatic resections for unusual lesions.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic resections including pancreaticoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy are the standard of care for patients with malignant tumors of the pancreas. Patients with benign disease or unusual tumors may benefit from other nonstandard resections. METHODS: A review of the literature and the author's experiences were undertaken. RESULTS: Parenchymal-sparing surgeries including pancreatic enucleation, central pancreatectomy, splenic-preserving distal pancreatectomy, and duodenal-preserving pancreatic head resection are described. The utility of each procedure is reviewed. Outcome results from published series are included. CONCLUSIONS: Nonstandard pancreatic resections should be considered in select patients with unusual lesions. Such procedures are safe and effective and may be associated with a reduced incidence of exocrine insufficiency.

Increased preoperative platelet count is associated with decreased survival after resection for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

BACKGROUND: Platelets are thought to participate in tumor metastasis. However, the relationship between platelet count and prognosis in pancreatic cancer remains unresolved. METHODS: A chart review of patients undergoing resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma was undertaken. Demographic, perioperative, and outcome data were collected. Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analyses were used to determine the impact of preoperative platelet count on survival. RESULTS: Between June 1995 and March 2003, 109 patients (63% male) with a median age of 68 years (range 42 to 85 years) underwent resection for pancreatic cancer. Univariate analysis demonstrated that platelet count, lymph node or margin status, and histology were associated with survival. In multivariate analysis, the association between increased platelet count and poor survival maintained significance. CONCLUSIONS: Increased preoperative platelet count is associated with adverse survival outcome in patients undergoing resection for pancreatic cancer. Antiplatelet medications warrant further study in an attempt to improve survival in these patients.

The changing spectrum of surgically treated cystic neoplasms of the pancreas.

Introduction. While the incidence of pancreatic cystic lesions has steadily increased, we sought to evaluate the changes in their surgical management. Methods. Patients with pancreatic cystic lesions who underwent surgical resection from 2003 to 2013 were identified. Clinicopathologic factors were analyzed and compared to a similar cohort from 1992 to 2002. Results. There were 134 patients with pancreatic cystic lesions who underwent surgical resection from 2003 to 2013, compared to 73 from 1992 to 2002. The most common preoperative imaging was a CT scan, although 66% underwent EUS and 63% underwent biopsy. Pathology included 18 serous, 47 mucinous, 11 pseudopapillary, and 58 intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN). In comparing cohorts, there were significantly fewer serous lesions and more IPMN. Postoperative complication rates were similar, and perioperative mortality rates were comparable. Conclusion. There has been a dramatic change in surgically treated pancreatic cystic tumors over the past two decades. Our data suggests that the incorporation of new imaging and diagnostic tests has led to greater detection of cystic tumors and a decreased rate of potentially unnecessary resections. Therefore, all patients with cystic pancreatic lesions should undergo a focused CT-pancreas, and an EUS biopsy should be considered, in order to best select those that would benefit from surgical resection.

Should all branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms be resected?

BACKGROUND: The relationship between branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and malignancy remains controversial and difficult to assess. METHODS: Between January 1, 1999 and January 1, 2013, we identified 84 patients with IPMN who underwent resection. RESULTS: Preoperatively, 55 patients underwent endoscopic ultrasounds and 58 underwent biopsy. Only 7 lesions were specified preoperatively as branch-duct, which inconsistently correlated with the surgical specimen. Of the 82 patients where the duct was specified, there were 33 malignant lesions. There was no correlation between branch-duct origin and invasive carcinoma. Malignant tumor size did not significantly differ by the duct of origin. Of the 28 patients with invasive carcinoma, branch-duct lesions were significantly associated with the presence of positive lymph nodes, perineural invasion, and lymphovascular invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports the resection criteria for branch-duct IPMN based on size and symptoms. However, it also questions the reliability of our preoperative testing to rule out malignant branch-duct IPMN lesions.

Spectrum of cystic neoplasms of the pancreas and their surgical management.

BACKGROUND: Owing to increased awareness and the widespread use of abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography, an increasing number of cystic neoplasms are being identified. Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are divided into the following 4 main groups: serous cystic neoplasms, mucinous cystic neoplasms, solid pseudopapillary neoplasms, and intraductal pancreatic mucinous neoplasms. OBJECTIVE: To review our experience with cystic neoplasms of the pancreas at our institution from January 1992 through September 2002. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for age, sex, clinical signs and symptoms, diagnosis, surgical treatment, morbidity, mortality, and histologic features. RESULTS: Seventy-three patients (49 women and 24 men) underwent surgical resection of a cystic neoplasm of the pancreas from January 1992 through September 2002. The most common presenting symptom was abdominal pain. Other symptoms included nausea, emesis, weight loss, jaundice, and pancreatitis. Most patients (73%) had no complications. The most common complication (10%) was pancreatic fistula. There were 3 deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are an increasing entity. Long-term survival of patients with these tumors is generally better than that of patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and mandates aggressive resectional therapy in most patients. Resection of these tumors can be done with resultant low morbidity and mortality rates.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer: experience at a single institution.

HYPOTHESIS: Patients receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery (CRS) undergo downstaging of their tumor and have improved survival when compared with patients undergoing surgery followed by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (SCR). DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Tertiary-care university medical center. PATIENTS: One hundred twenty-three patients with squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus underwent Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy from January 1, 1990, through December 31, 2001. Of these, 31 received CRS; 27, SCR; and 65, surgery alone. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were candidates for neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy if they had locally advanced disease (T3/T4 N0 or any T stage with N1). Neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies were nonrandomized and based on the preference of the treating oncologist and surgeon. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Pathological downstaging was analyzed in the patients receiving CRS. Operative mortality, postoperative morbidity, median survival, and overall survival were compared between the CRS and SCR groups. RESULTS: Pathological downstaging (as characterized by TNM staging) was observed in 20 (64%) of the patients receiving CRS. Complete pathological responses occurred in 5 (16%) of the patients undergoing CRS. No 30-day mortality was observed in either treatment group. No statistical difference in survival was observed between groups, although a trend suggested improved survival with neoadjuvant therapy (3-year survival in CRS and SCR groups was 45% and 22%, respectively; P =.15). Complete pathological responders in the CRS group had a 1-year survival of 80% compared with 29% in nonresponders (P =.25). No statistical differences were observed between groups in relation to blood loss, length of hospital stay, mortality, or morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy effectively downstages cancer in patients with locally advanced esophageal disease. Morbidity and operative mortality were not significantly different between patients receiving neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy. The difference in overall survival between the 2 groups did not reach statistical significance, although a trend at 3 years was observed.