Journal of International Oncology ›› 2021, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (6): 341-349.doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn371439-20210205-00065

• Original Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Analysis of clinical characteristics and dosimetric factors on long-term survival in locally advanced thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Li Xiaoqin1, Zhang Kaixian2, Li Guang3, Zheng Anping4, Li Baosheng1()   

  1. 1Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
    2Department of Oncology, Tengzhou Central People's Hospital, Shandong Province, Tengzhou 277500, China
    3Department of Radiation Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China
    4Department of Radiation Oncology, Anyang Cancer Hospital, Henan Province, Anyang 455000, China
  • Received:2021-02-05 Revised:2021-04-11 Online:2021-06-08 Published:2021-06-24
  • Contact: Li Baosheng E-mail:bsli@sdfmu.edu.cn

Abstract:

Objective To explore the effects of clinical characteristics and dosimetric factors on the survival and prognosis of patients with locally advanced thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Methods A total of 158 patients with locally advanced thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma undergoing CCRT in Shandong Cancer Hospital, Anyang Cancer Hospital of Henan Province, Tengzhou Central People's Hospital of Shandong Province and the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University from August 2015 to October 2018 were selected as the research subjects. These patients were divided into standard-dose group (50.0-50.4 Gy, n=59) and high-dose group (>50.4 Gy, n=99) according to the radiotherapy dose. The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of the two groups after treatment were compared. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rate and survival comparison was performed by log-rank test. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to analyze the adverse prognostic factors. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive value of lung V30 for patient prognosis. Results In 158 patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, 19 cases (12.03%) had complete remission after CCRT, 103 cases (65.19%) had partial remission, 27 cases (17.09%) had stable disease, 9 cases (5.70%) had progression disease, and the total effective rate was 77.22%. The median OS of 158 patients was 41 months (95%CI: 25-57 months), and the 1- and 3-year OS rates were 76% and 51%, respectively. The median PFS was 24 months (95%CI: 13-35 months), and the 1- and 3-year PFS rates were 60% and 39%, respectively. The 1- and 3-year OS rates in the standard-dose group were 74% and 56%, and those in the high-dose group were 77% and 49%, with no statistically significant difference (χ2=0.300, P=0.584). The 1- and 3-year PFS rates in the standard-dose group were 62% and 37%, and those in the high-dose group were 59% and 40%, with no statistically significant difference (χ2<0.001, P=0.990). Univariate analysis showed that the length of the lesion, N stage, clinical stage, short-term efficacy of CCRT, planning target volume (PTV) Dmax, gross tumor volume (GTV) Dmean, V5, V10, V20, V30, Dmean of the left, right and bilateral lung were all the prognostic factors for OS and PFS (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the length of the lesion (HR=2.226, 95%CI: 1.244-3.985, P=0.007), N stage (HR=2.819, 95%CI: 1.137-6.991, P=0.025), clinical stage (HR=1.897, 95%CI: 1.079-3.334, P=0.026), short-term efficacy of CCRT (HR=1.805, 95%CI: 1.250-2.606, P=0.002), left lung V10 (HR=0.811, 95%CI: 0.668-0.986, P=0.035), left lung V30 (HR=0.617, 95%CI: 0.408-0.933, P=0.022), right lung V20 (HR=2.067, 95%CI: 1.010-4.231, P=0.047), bilateral lung V10 (HR=1.299, 95%CI: 1.016-1.662, P=0.037) and bilateral lung V30 (HR=2.368, 95%CI: 1.142-4.910, P=0.021) were independent prognostic factors affecting OS. N stage (HR=2.433, 95%CI: 1.201-4.931, P=0.014), short-term efficacy of CCRT (HR=2.067, 95%CI: 1.391-3.071, P<0.001) and bilateral lung V30 (HR=0.113, 95%CI: 0.018-0.719, P=0.021) were independent prognostic factors affecting PFS. The ROC curve for predicting OS and PFS showed that the optimal cut-off value of bilateral lung V30 was 9.5%. Conclusion Compared with the standard-dose group, increasing the dose of radiotherapy fails to improve the long-term survival of patients with locally advanced thoracic squamous cell carcinoma. Lesion length, N stage, clinical stage, short-term efficacy of CCRT, left lung V10 and V30, right lung V20 , bilateral lung V10 and V30 are independent prognostic factors for OS in patients with locally advanced thoracic squamous cell carcinoma. N stage, short-term efficacy of CCRT and bilateral lung V30 are independent prognostic factors for PFS. When bilateral lung V30≤9.5%, the patients' OS and PFS will benefit from the treatment.

Key words: Esophageal neoplasms, Neoplasms,squamous cell, Chemoradiotherapy, Prognosis, Dosimetric factors