The Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Comparison With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Resectable Squamous Cell Esophageal Cancer

It is a prospective open-label randomized phase III clinical trial sponsored by N.N. Blokhin NMRC of Oncology. 156 patients with locally advanced resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (cT3-4aN0M0, cT1-4aN1-3M0) are recruited and randomly assigned into the neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy group (nCRT) followed by esophagectomy and the neoadjuvant chemotherapy group (nCT) followed by esophagectomy according to the proportion of 1:1. The safety, efficacy of protocols and prognosis of patients are compared between the two regimens.

Inclusion criteria

• Written informed consent.
• Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.
• Clinical stage cT1-4aN1-3M0 (AJCC/UICC 8th Edition).
• Indications for surgical esophageal resection
• ECOG status 0-1.
• Adequate bone marrow function (White Blood Cells > 3.0 x 109/L; Neutrophil > 2.0 × 109/L; Hemoglobin > 90 g/L; Platelets > 100 x 109/L).
• Adequate liver function (Total bilirubin < 1.5 x Upper Level of Normal (ULN); Aspartate transaminase (AST) and Alanine transaminase (ALT) < 3.0 x ULN);
• Adequate renal function (Glomerular filtration rate (CCr) > 50 ml/min.
• Adequate cardiac function. Left ventricular ejection fraction > 50%.
• Age from 18 years to 70

Exclusion criteria

• Clinical stage cT4bcN0cM0 (AJCC/UICC 8th Edition).
• Patients with advanced non-operable or metastatic esophageal cancer.
• Patients who have received or are receiving other chemotherapy, radiotherapy or targeted therapy.
• Patients with another previous or current malignant disease.
• Allergy or contraindications to Paclitaxel, Carboplatin, Docetaxel, Cisplatin or Fluoruracil.
• Patients with active infection of immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV); HIV seropositivity; HBV DNA or HCV RNA positive.
• Severe concomitant diseases (uncontrolled arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, stroke less than 6 months old, mental disorders, other tumors, etc.).
• Clinically significant coronary artery disease (NYHA III / IV), congestive heart failure (NYHAIII / IV), clinically significant cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction within the last 6 months, or high risk of uncontrolled arrhythmia.
• Chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
• Acute infectious diseases.
• Pregnancy or breast feeding.
• Serious concomitant physical and mental illness / abnormalities or territorial reasons that may prevent the patient from participating in the protocol and adherence to the protocol schedule.
• Foreigners or persons with limited legal rights.
• Any medical, geographic, or social circumstance, that in the opinion of the investigator excludes the patient's participation in the protocol.