title: Final Results of NRG Oncology RTOG 0246: An Organ-Preserving Selective Resection Strategy in Esophageal Cancer Patients Treated with Definitive Chemoradiation.
abstract: The impact of selective surgical resection for patients with esophageal cancer treated with definitive chemoradiation has not been clearly evaluated long-term.
  
  
  
  NRG (National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project, Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, Gynecologic Oncology Group) Oncology Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 0246 was a multi-institutional, single-arm, open-label, nonrandomized phase II study that enrolled 43 patients from September 2003 to March 2008 with clinical stage T1-4N0-1M0 squamous cell or adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction from 19 sites. Patients received induction chemotherapy with fluorouracil (650 mg/m2/d), cisplatin (15 mg/m2/d), and paclitaxel (200 mg/m2/d) for two cycles followed by concurrent chemoradiation consisting of 50.4 Gy of radiation (1.8 Gy per fraction) and daily fluorouracil (300 mg/m2/d) with cisplatin (15 mg/m2/d) over the first 5 days. After definitive chemoradiation, patients were evaluated for residual disease. Selective esophagectomy was considered only for patients with residual disease after chemoradiation (clinical incomplete response) or recurrent disease on surveillance.
  
  
  
  This report looks at the long-term outcome of this selective surgical strategy. With a median follow-up of 8.1 years (minimum to maximum for 12 alive patients 7.2-9.8 years), the estimated 5- and 7-year survival rates are 36.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 22.3-51.0) and 31.7% (95% CI: 18.3-46.0). Clinical complete response was achieved in 15 patients (37%), with 5- and 7-yearr survival rates of 53.3% (95% CI: 26.3-74.4) and 46.7% (95% CI: 21.2-68.7). Esophageal resection was not required in 20 of 41 patients (49%) on this trial.
  
  
  
  The long-term results of NRG Oncology Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 0246 demonstrate promising efficacy of a selective surgical resection strategy and suggest the need for larger randomized studies to further evaluate this organ-preserving approach.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. Electronic address: sswisher@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Stephen G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Swisher
authors.affiliation: NRG Oncology Statistics and Data Management Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moughan
authors.affiliation: University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Ritsuko U
authors.initials: RU
authors.lastname: Komaki
authors.affiliation: University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Jaffer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ajani
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Tsung T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Wayne L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Hofstetter
authors.affiliation: Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Andre A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Konski
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Willett
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D016629:Esophagectomy; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D060828:Induction Chemotherapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D059351:Organ Sparing Treatments; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil
keywords: Definitive chemoradiation; Esophageal cancer; Gastroesophageal junction; Selective esophagectomy