Does pathological stage and nodal involvement influence long term oncological outcomes after cross regimen for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction? A multicenter retrospective analysis

Background: After the results reported by the “Chemoradiotherapy for esophageal Cancer Followed by Surgery Study” (CROSS) trial, neo-adjuvant chemoradiotherapy became the standard treatment for locally advanced cancers of esophagus and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). Excellent results were reported for squamocellular carcinomas (SCCs). Since the advent of the CROSS regimen, the results of surgery for esophageal adenocarcinomas (EAC) have cast some doubts about its efficacy on overall survival (OS) even in the presence of local response. This study evaluated the relation between pathological (yp) stage after CROSS regimen followed by surgery for adenocarcinoma of cardia and overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Sites of relapse after surgery were also analyzed. Methods: Patients submitted to the CROSS regimen for locally advanced EAC of the cardia followed by transthoracic esophagectomy were analyzed. Actuarial OS and DFS were analyzed and stratified according to yp stage. The site of relapse, distal and local, was also analyzed. Results: The study included 132 patients. The 50-month OS and DFS were 45% and 6.7%, respectively. No differences emerged analyzing OS according to yp stage. Time to relapse was significantly longer for yp Stage I and II, and for yp N0, compared with yp N+. Recurrence occurred in 48 cases (36.3%) with a 9 months median time to relapse. Local and distal relapse were 10 (7.5%) and 38 (28.7%) cases, respectively (p =< 0.001). Conclusions: Pathological stage after CROSS regimen does not relate to OS and DFS. Time to recurrence is significantly longer for yp Stages I and II and ypN0. Chemoradiotherapy in a neoadjuvant setting may influence the site of relapse, significantly reducing local recurrences.