Applying post-neoadjuvant pathologic stage as prognostic tool in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: It is still uncertain whether the newly released eighth American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) post-neoadjuvant pathologic (yp) tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage for esophageal carcinoma can perform well regarding patient stratification. The current study aimed to assess the prognostication ability of the eighth AJCC ypTNM staging system and attempted to explore how to facilitate the staging system for more effective evaluation of prognosis.

Materials And Methods: A total of 486 patients treated with neoadjuvant radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy (nRT/CRT) were enrolled.

Postoperative Adjuvant Therapy Versus Surgery Alone for Stage IIB-III Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Phase III Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Retrospective studies have shown that adjuvant treatment improves survival of patients with stage IIB-III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, but there is no evidence from prospective trials so far.

Materials And Methods: Patients with pathological stage IIB-III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were randomly assigned to receive surgery alone (SA), postoperative radiotherapy (PORT), or postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy (POCRT). PORT patients received 54 Gy in 27 fractions; the POCRT group received 50.

Postoperative Radiotherapy in Pathological T2-3N0M0 Thoracic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Interim Report of a Prospective, Phase III, Randomized Controlled Study.

Background: The role of postoperative radiotherapy in pathological T2-3N0M0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of postoperative radiotherapy in patients with pathological T2-3N0M0 thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: Patients aged 18-72 years with pathological stage T2-3N0M0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after radical surgery and without neoadjuvant therapy were eligible.

A phase-II/III randomized controlled trial of adjuvant radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy after surgery versus surgery alone in patients with stage-IIB/III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery is the most common approach for patients with resectable esophageal cancer. Nevertheless, considerable numbers of esophageal-cancer patients undergo surgery as the first treatment. The benefit of neoadjuvant therapy might only be for patients with a pathologic complete response, so stratified research is necessary.

A propensity-score matching analysis comparing long-term survival of surgery alone and postoperative treatment for patients in node positive or stage III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after R0 esophagectomy.

Background: Surveillance was recommended for patients after R0 esophagectomy by National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. However, local failure was high in locally advanced patients (48-78%). The present study aimed to determine whether adjuvant treatment improved survival for stage IIb-III thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (TESCC).

Nomogram to Predict Overall Survival for Thoracic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients After Radical Esophagectomy.

Background: Effective tools evaluating the prognosis for patients with esophageal cancer undergoing surgery is lacking. The current study aimed to develop a nomogram to predict overall survival (OS) and provide evidence for adjuvant therapy for patients with esophageal carcinoma after esophagectomy.

Methods: The study retrospectively reviewed patients with pathologic T1N +/T2-4aN0-3, M0 thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after radical esophagectomy, with or without adjuvant therapy, in one institution as the training cohort (n = 2281).

Adjuvant radiotherapy for stage pN1M0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Results from a Chinese two-center study.

Background: Whether postoperative radiotherapy is beneficial in the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with one or two regional lymph node (LN) metastases (pN1) after esophagectomy is uncertain. This study aimed to explore the effect of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) on survival.

Methods: Propensity score-matching (PSM) analysis was conducted to balance the two arms (surgery only [S] or surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy [PORT]).

Long-term survival of the middle and lower thoracic esophageal cancer patients after surgical treatment through left or right thoracic approach.

Background: Esophageal cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies with a high incidence and mortality in China, the main treatment for esophageal cancer at present is still surgery-based multimodality treatment, and surgery is still the most effective measure. However, the modes of surgical treatment for esophageal cancer have been diverse. The surgical approaches can be mainly divided into the left thoracic approach and right thoracic approach in China.

A prognostic nomogram for overall survival after neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective analysis.

Background: Currently, the AJCC staging system or pathological complete response (pCR) are considered not sufficiently accurate to evaluate the survival of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. This study aimed to establish a nomogram and a recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) model to estimate prognosis and to provide advice for subsequent treatments.

Methods: We analyzed retrospectively 407 patients that were diagnosed with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (TESCC) and received neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

The Impact of Postoperative Conformal Radiotherapy after Radical Surgery on Survival and Recurrence in Pathologic T3N0M0 Esophageal Carcinoma: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Introduction: The role of conformal radiotherapy (cRT) in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (TESCC) has not been addressed in adjuvant settings. The aim of this study was to investigate whether postoperative radiotherapy using cRT after an R0 resection improves outcomes in pT3N0M0 TESCC compared with resection alone.

Methods: This study included 678 patients with pT3N0M0 TESCC who were treated at the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from January 2004 to December 2011.

Experiences in the management of anastomotic leakages and analysis of the factors affecting leakage healing in patients with esophagogastric junction cancer.

Background: It was reported in the literatures that the incidence of anastomotic leakage in patients with esophagogastric junction cancer decreased due to application of staplers and closure devices as well as gastric conduit technique in recent years, however, it increased slightly at our center since widely using the above devices and gastric conduit techniques from 2009. The objective of this study was to summarize our experiences in the management of anastomotic leakages and analyze the factors affecting leakage healing in the patients with esophagogastric junction cancer after surgical resection in recent 6 years.

Methods: All patients who received surgical resections for esophagogastric junction cancer and diagnosed anastomotic leak at our center between January 2009 and December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed, we also enrolled the patients who had a longer hospital stay (>30 days) as they may develop anastomotic leak.

Nomogram and recursive partitioning analysis to predict overall survival in patients with stage IIB-III thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after esophagectomy.

We have developed statistical models for predicting survival in patients with stage IIB-III thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and assessing the efficacy of adjuvant treatment. From a retrospective review of 3,636 patients, we created a database of 1,004 patients with stage IIB-III thoracic ESCC who underwent esophagectomy with or without postoperative radiation. Using a multivariate Cox regression model, we assessed the prognostic impact of clinical and histological factors on overall survival (OS).

[Comparison of the lymph node dissection and complications between video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) esophagectomy and conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomic].

Objective: Video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) esophagectomy has been performed for more than 10 years in China. However, compared with the conventional esophagectomy via right thoracotomy, whether VATS esophagectomy has more advantages or not in the lymph node (LN) dissection and prevention of perioperative complications is still controversial and deserves to be further investigated. The aim of this study was to explore whether there are significant differences in this issue between the two surgical modalities or not.

Postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy improved survival in lymph node-positive or stage III thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the effect of postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) on recurrence and survival in lymph node-positive or stage III thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (TESCC) patients, and evaluate its role in TESCC therapy.

Methods: We enrolled 538 patients who underwent radical resection with (S + R) or without (S) postoperative IMRT. The median total postoperative IMRT dose was 60 Gy.

[Exploration of lymph node metastasis and appropriate lymph node dissection modes in patients with clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer].

Objective: To explore the pattern of lymph node metastasis and evaluate the modes and extent of mediastinal lymph node dissection in patients with ≤ 3 cm, clinical stage I primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Data of 270 eligible patients who underwent pulmonary resection with systematic lymph node dissection in our hospital between March 2012 and August 2013 were retrospectively analyzed in order to investigate the relationship between the clinicopathological features and lymph node metastatic patterns. Patients with multiple primary carcinomas or non-primary pulmonary malignancies and those who received any chemotherapy or radiotherapy or did not undergo systematic nodal dissection were excluded.

[Role of conventional pulmonary function tests and stair climbing test in the prediction of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications in non-small cell lung cancer patients after surgery].

Objective: To evaluate and compare the value of stair climbing tests and conventional pulmonary function tests in the prediction of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications in non-small cell lung cancer patients underwent surgery.

Methods: From April 1, 2010 to Jan. 30, 2012, a total of 162 patients with thoracic carcinoma underwent stair climbing test (SCT) and conventional pulmonary function tests (PFT) preoperatively.

[Comparison of the results of lymph node dissection via left versus right thoracotomy].

Objective: Up to now surgical treatment has been still the most effective treatment for esophageal cancer. However, postoperative lymph node recurrence is still a frequent event and affects long term survival considerably. The aim of this study is to compare the results of lymph node dissection via left vs.

[Role of conventional pulmonary function tests and cardiopulmonary exercise test in the prediction of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications in high risk thoracic cancer patients].

Objective: To evaluate and compare the value of cardiopulmonary exercise test and conventional pulmonary function tests in the prediction of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications in high risk patients with chest malignant tumors.

Methods: From January 2006 to January 2009, 216 consecutive patients with thoracic malignant tumors underwent conventional pulmonary function tests (PFT, spirometry + DLCOsb for diffusion capacity) and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) preoperatively. The correlation of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications with the parameters of PFT and CPET were retrospectively analyzed using Chi-square test, independent sample t-test and logistic regression analysis.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in the evaluation of high risk patients with lung cancer.

Background: It is still unclear whether pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are sufficient for predicting perioperative risk, and whether all patients or only a subset of them need a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) for further assessment. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the CPET and compare the results of CPET and conventional PFTs to identify which parameters are more reliable and valuable in predicting perioperative risks for high risk patients with lung cancer.

Methods: From January 2005 to August 2008, 297 consecutive lung cancer patients underwent conventional PFTs (spirometry + single-breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity of the lungs (DLCOsb) for diffusion capacity) and CPET preoperatively.

[Treatment and prevention of bronchus-pleural fistula after pneumonectomy for lung cancer].

Objective: To explore the methods of the treatment and the principles of the prevention of bronchus-pleural fistula (BPF) after pneumonectomy.

Methods: The clinical data of 15 cases of BPF after pneumonectomy in 815 lung cancer cases treated from July 1999 to June 2006 were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: The occurrence rate of BPF after right pneumonectomy was 3.

[Surgical results of T4 lung cancer invading left atrium and great vessels].

Objective: To analyzed the indication and prognostic factors of surgical treatment of lung cancer invading left atrium and great vessels (T4).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the database of 136 T4 lung cancer (tumors invading left atrium and great vessels) patients who received surgical treatment in Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) from September 1981 to January 2007. There are 114 men and 22 women, the median age was 58 years (range 28 - 76).

[Surgical therapeutic strategy for non-small cell lung cancer with (N2) mediastinal lymph node metastasis].

Objective: To evaluate the surgical therapeutic strategy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with (N2) mediastinal lymph node metastasis.

Methods: The clinical data of 325 patients with N2 NSCLC treated surgically between 1961 and 1995 were analysed.

Results: The over-all 5-year survival rate was 19.