Radiotherapy for Esophageal Cancer in Patients 80 Years of Age or Older: A 16-Year Experience

Abstract

by Greedy method after propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. Survival curves were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results: 975 patients were enrolled into the study, 510 patients (52.3%) did not receive any postoperative treatment after surgery and 465 patients had either postoperative chemoradiation or radiotherapy, 331 patients had radiotherapy and 134 had postoperative chemoradiotherapy. Median follow-up was 69.2 months (95% CI 67.1-71.4 months). The 3-year, 5-year survival rates and median survival were 43.3%，32.8%， 28.9 months. DFS rates 37.7%, 31.7% and 22.5 months; and 52.3%, 40.3%, 41.8 months, respectively (PZ0.000). After PSM, 222 well-balanced patients in each group. The 3-year, 5-year survival rates and median survival were 33.0%, 26.4%, 24.4 months; and 52.3%, 40.3%, 41.8 months, respectively (PZ0.002). 33.0%, 26.4%, 24.4 months and 48.3%, 37.1%, 34.3months. N stage and adjuvant treatment are independent prognostic factors. Comparing with radiotherapy, postoperative chemoradiation did not improve DFS and OS. Conclusion: Adjuvant treatment could improve survival for patients with stage node positive or stage III thoracic squamous cell carcinoma. Further investigation is warranted.