Reduced incidence of nodal micrometastasis after major response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation in locally advanced esophageal cancer.
BACKGROUND
Neoadjuvant treatment modalities for esophageal cancer were developed to improve local tumor control as well as to reduce lymph node metastases and distant metastases in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. The influence on nodal micrometastasis has not yet been evaluated.


METHODS
This study includes 52 patients with localized (cT2-4, Nx, M0) esophageal cancers (21 adenocarcinomas, 31 squamous cell cancers) who received neoadjuvant chemoradiation (36Gy, 5-FU, cisplatin) followed by transthoracic en bloc esophagectomy with two field lymphadenectomy. The extent of histomorphologic regression was categorized into major (< 10%) and minor response (>10% vital residual tumor cells) as recently reported. A total of 1186 lymph nodes were diagnosed as negative for metastases by routine histopathological analysis and were further examined for the presence of isolated tumor cells with the monoclonal anti-epithelial antibody AE1/AE3.


RESULTS
Twenty-two tumors (42.3%) showed a major histopathologic response whereas in 30 tumors (57.7%) only a minor response was present. Of 32 patients with a pN0 category, major response was present in 19 (59.4%) tumors, whereas 13 (40.6%) tumors showed minor response. Nine (69%) out of 13 patients with minor response had AE1/AE3-positive cells in their lymph nodes, whereas only four (21%) out of 19 pN0-patients with major response showed nodal micrometastasis (P = 0.013, chi(2)-test).


CONCLUSIONS
If tumors show a major histomorphologic response following neoadjuvant chemoradiation, the presence of nodal micrometastasis is significantly reduced compared to those with minor response.
Prenzel
Klaus L
KL
Department of Visceral and Vascular Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. Klausprenzel@hotmail.com
König
Alexandra
A
Schneider
Paul M
PM
Schnickmann
Christian
C
Baldus
Stephan E
SE
Schröder
Wolfgang
W
Bollschweiler
Elfriede
E
Dienes
Hans P
HP
Mueller
Rolf P
RP
Izbicki
Jakob R
JR
Hölscher
Arnulf H
AH
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil