AUTHOR=Qin Qin , Ge Xiaolin , Wang Xin , Wang Lan , Li Chen , Chen Junqiang , Wang Xiaomin , Zhao Yidian , Zhang Wencheng , Wang Ping , Pang Qingsong , Zhang Kaixian , Li Ling , Hu Miaomiao , Hao Chongli , Li Gaofeng , Xu Yonggang , Qiao Xueying , Zhou Zhiguo , Zhu Shuchai , Shen Wenbin , Wang Yati , Lu Na , Liu Miaoling , Qie Shuai , Han Chun , Xiao Zefen , Sun Xinchen 

TITLE=Stage III Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients With Three-Dimensional Conformal or Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2020.580450

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2020.580450

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Aim:</bold> To evaluate long-term outcome and prognostic factors of stage III esophageal cancer after definitive radiotherapy using three dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) or intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) techniques.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Patients with T3N1M0/T4N0-1M0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated with definitive radiotherapy from 2002 to 2016 in 10 Chinese medical centers were retrospectively analyzed. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were calculated. Prognostic factors were analyzed by Log-rank test and multivariable Cox model.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Survival data of 1,450 patients were retrospectively collected. With a median follow-up time of 65.9 months, 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates were 69.3, 36.7, and 27.7%, respectively, and PFS rates were 58.6, 32.7, and 27.4%, respectively. Univariable analyses showed that gender, age, lesion location, lesion length, largest tumor diameter, lymph node metastasis, gross tumor volume, EQD2, short-term response, and concurrent chemotherapy were prognostic factors for OS. Multivariable analyses showed that lesion location, T-classification, GTV size, EQD2, and short-term response to RT were independent prognostic factors for OS, and tumor diameter, GTV size, and short-term response were independent prognostic factors for PFS.</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> This study demonstrated that definitive radiotherapy using 3DCRT and IMRT provides promising outcomes for locally advanced ESCC.</p>