Residual disease after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for oesophageal cancer: locations undetected by endoscopic biopsies in the preSANO trial

B J van der Wilk, B M Eyck, M Doukas, M C W Spaander, E J Schoon, K K Krishnadath, L E Oostenbrug, S M Lagarde, B P L Wijnhoven, L H J Looijenga, K Biermann, J J B van Lanschot

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13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Active surveillance has been proposed for patients with oesophageal cancer in whom there is a complete clinical response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). However, endoscopic biopsies have limited negative predictive value in detecting residual disease. This study determined the location of residual tumour following surgery to improve surveillance and endoscopic strategies.

METHODS: The present study was based on patients who participated in the prospective preSANO trial with adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus or oesophagogastric junction treated in four Dutch hospitals between 2013 and 2016. Resection specimens and endoscopic biopsies taken during clinical response evaluations after nCRT were reviewed by two expert gastrointestinal pathologists. The exact location of residual disease in the oesophageal wall was determined in resection specimens. Endoscopic biopsies were assessed for the presence of structures representing the submucosal layer of the oesophageal wall.

RESULTS: In total, 119 eligible patients underwent clinical response evaluations after nCRT followed by standard surgery. Residual tumour was present in endoscopic biopsies from 70 patients, confirmed on histological analysis of the resected organ. Residual tumour was present in the resection specimen from 27 of the other 49 patients, despite endoscopic biopsies being negative. Of these 27 patients, residual tumour was located in the mucosa in 18, and in the submucosa beneath tumour-free mucosa in eight. One patient had tumour in muscle beneath tumour-free mucosa and submucosa.

CONCLUSION: Most residual disease after nCRT missed by endoscopic biopsies was located in the mucosa. Active surveillance could be improved by more sampling and considering submucosal biopsies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1791-1800
Number of pages10
JournalThe British journal of surgery
Volume107
Issue number13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2020

Keywords

  • Adenocarcinoma/diagnostic imaging
  • Aftercare
  • Aged
  • Biopsy
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/diagnostic imaging
  • Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Esophageal Mucosa/diagnostic imaging
  • Esophageal Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging
  • Esophagoscopy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy
  • Neoplasm, Residual
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prospective Studies

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