Title

Is Extended Volume of External Beam Irradiation Beneficial in Post-esophagectomy High Risk Patients Receiving Combined Chemoradiation Therapy?

Authors

E. Yu, University of Western OntarioFollow
A. R. Dar, University of Western OntarioFollow
R. Ash, London Health Sciences Centre
G. Videtic, London Health Sciences Centre
P. Truong, London Health Sciences Centre
L. Stitt, University of Western OntarioFollow
A. Tomiak, London Health Sciences Centre
M. Vincent, University of Western OntarioFollow
R. Malthaner, University of Western OntarioFollow
I. Craig, University of Western OntarioFollow
E. Brecevic, London Health Sciences Centre
W. Kocha, London Health Sciences Centre
R. Inculet, University of Western OntarioFollow
M. Lefcoe, University of Western OntarioFollow

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

2001

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of extended volume irradiation with anastomotic coverage in high risk resected esophageal cancer patients.

METHOD: A retrospective study was undertaken at LRCC from 1989-1999 for high risk resected esophageal cancer patients. Adjuvant treatments consisted of 4 cycles of chemotherapy (epirubicin/fluorouracil/cisplatin or cisplatin/fluorouracil), and local regional irradiation with or without coverage of the anastomotic site. Radiation dose ranged from 45-60Gy at 1.8-2.0 Gy/fraction given with initial anterior-posterior/posterior-anterior arrangement with either extended (with anastomotic coverage) or small (without anastomotic coverage) field followed by oblique fields for boost.

RESULT: One hundred eighty-eight charts were reviewed. Seventy-two patients were eligible for post-resection chemoradiation therapy. Three patients had disease progression prior to therapy, and 69 patients were analyzed. There were 81% T3N1 and 13% T2N1. Thirty-four patients had margin involvements (radial 53%; proximal/distal 32%), 65% were adenocarcinoma and 33% were squamous carcinoma. Median followup was 23.6 months (3.4 - 78.4 months). Two year survival was 50%; 5yr 24%. Relapse rate was 62.3% and median time to relapse was 20 months. Recurrence locally to anastomosis or adjacent to anastomosis was 9/43(20.9%) with small field and 2/26(7.7%) with extended field. Of 31 patients with relapse outside anastomosis, 14/20(70%) relapsed locoregional/distal when treated with small field and 3/11(27%) relapsed locoregional/distal when treated with extended field (p=0.02). There was no excess treatment interruption or chronic gastrointestinal toxicity with extended field irradiation.

CONCLUSION: There is significant decrease in locoregional/distal relapse with use of extended field in high risk resected esophageal cancer patients.

Notes

Presentation at the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncologists (CARO) Annual Scientific Meeting in Québec City, QC in 2001