Phase III randomized trial comparing neoadjuvant paclitaxel plus platinum with 5-fluorouracil plus platinum in esophageal or gastroesophageal junction squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced esophageal or gastroesophageal junction squamous cancer, 5-fluorouracil plus platinum, is toxic and logistically challenging; alternative regimens are needed.

Methods: This was a phase III randomized open-label noninferiority trial at Tata Memorial Center, India, in resectable locally advanced esophageal or gastroesophageal junction squamous cancer. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to 3 cycles of 3-weekly platinum (cisplatin 75 mg/m2 or carboplatin area under the curve 6) with paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 (day 1) or 5-fluorouracil 1000 mg/m2 continuous infusion (days 1-4), followed by surgery.

Results: Between August 2014 and June 2022, we enrolled 420 patients; 210 to each arm. Statistically significantly more patients on paclitaxel plus platinum (n =194, 92.3%) received all 3 chemotherapy cycles than on 5-fluorouracil with platinum (n = 170, 85.9%; P = .009). 5-fluorouracil plus platinum caused more grade 3 or higher toxicities (n = 124, 69.7%) than paclitaxel plus platinum (n = 97, 51.9%; P = .001). Surgery was performed in 131 (62.4%) patients on 5-fluorouracil plus platinum vs 139 (66.2%) on paclitaxel plus platinum (P = .415). Paclitaxel plus platinum resulted in higher pathologic primary tumor clearance (n = 33, 25.8%, vs n = 17, 15%; P = .04) and pathologic complete responses in 21.9% compared with 12.4% from 5-fluorouracil plus platinum (P = .053). Median overall survival was 27.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI] = 18.6 to 43.5 months) from paclitaxel plus platinum, which was noninferior to 27.1 months (95% CI = 18.8 to 40.7 months) from 5-fluorouracil plus platinum (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.72 to 1.09; P = .346).

Conclusion: Neoadjuvant paclitaxel plus platinum chemotherapy is safer and results in similar R0 resections, higher pathologic tumor clearance and noninferior survival compared with 5-fluorouracil plus platinum. Paclitaxel plus platinum should replace 5-fluorouracil plus platinum as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for resectable locally advanced esophagealor gastroesophageal junction squamous cancer.

Clinical Trials Registry India Number: CTRI/2014/04/004516.