Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy could improve survival outcomes for esophageal carcinoma: a meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
The effectiveness of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with resectable esophageal carcinoma remains controversial.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy on operable esophageal carcinoma.


METHODS
We searched PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science and identified all randomized controlled trials published up until July 2011 that directly compared chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery with surgery alone. The risk ratio (RR) with its corresponding 95 % confidence interval (CI) was the principal measure of effects.


RESULTS
Twelve randomized controlled trials that met our inclusion criteria were identified. Chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery was associated with significantly improved 1-year (RR = 0.86, 95 % CI = 0.74-0.98, P = 0.03), 3-year (RR = 0.82, 95 % CI = 0.73-0.92, P = 0.0007) and 5-year (RR = 0.83, 95 % CI = 0.72-0.96, P = 0.01) survival times compared with surgery alone. Subgroup analysis suggested that this benefit was associated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy but not sequential chemoradiotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy could improve 3- and 5-year survival outcomes for squamous cell carcinoma but not those for adenocarcinoma. Postoperative morbidity (RR = 0.97, 95 % CI = 0.86-1.09, P = 0.56) and mortality (RR = 1.56, 95 % CI = 0.97-2.50, P = 0.07) did not increase in patients treated by chemoradiotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings revealed that compared with surgery alone, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy was associated with improved 1-, 3- and 5-year survival times, but not associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients with esophageal carcinoma.
Tianjin Medical University, 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China. tjdgwdb@163.com
Dong-Bin
DB
Wang
Xun
X
Zhang
Hong-Li
HL
Han
Yi-Jun
YJ
Xu
Da-Qiang
DQ
Sun
Zhen-Liang
ZL
Shi
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents