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. 2025 Sep 23;58(6):239–251. doi: 10.5090/jcs.25.040

Table 3.

Outcomes of studies on complete responders to preoperative chemoradiation therapy followed by active surveillance in esophageal cancer

Study Study types No. of patients Histology Chemotherapy Radiation dose (Gy) Outcomes

After diagnosis/start of treatment After surgery/active surveillance
This study Retrospective cohort 87a) SCC (85); AC (2) Primary PFL 50.4 1-year OS (96.5%); 3-year OS (76.0%); mOS (129 m) 1-year OS (90.6%); 3-year OS (72.7%); mOS (125 m); 1-year RFS (81.4%); 3-year RFS (62.0%); mRFS (68 m)
SANO [5] Clinical trial (CRT + f/u vs. CRT + S) 198b) SCC (47); AC (147); other (4) TC 41.4 NA mOS (43 m); 2-year OS (74%); mDFS (35 m)
ESOPRESSO [8] Clinical trial (CRT + f/u vs. CRT + S) 18b) SCC (18) XP 50.4 mOS (not reached); mPFS (25.6 m) 2-year DFS (42.7%); mDFS (21.7 m)
Jeong et al. [10] Retrospective cohort (CRT + f/u vs. CRT + S) 31b) SCC (31) XP 54 2-year OS (61.3%); 2-year DFS (47.3%) NA
Castoro et al. [23] Retrospective cohort (CRT + f/u vs. CRT + S) 38b) SCC (38) Primary FP 45–50.4 5-year OS (57%) 5-year DFS (34.6%)
van der Wilk et al. [9] Retrospective cohort (CRT + f/u vs. CRT + S, matched) 29b) SCC (22); AC (7) TC 41.4 1-year OS (100%); 3-year OS (77%); mOS (not reached); 1-year PFS (100%); 3-year PFS (60%); mPFS (39.5) NA

Chemotherapy regimens: FP, 5-fluorouracil + cisplatin; PFL, cisplatin + 5-fluorouracil + leucovorin; TC, paclitaxel + carboplatin; XP, capecitabine + cisplatin.

SCC, squamous cell carcinoma; AC, adenocarcinoma; OS, overall survival; mOS, median overall survival; RFS, recurrence-free survival; mRFS, median recurrence-free survival; CRT, chemoradiotherapy; f/u, follow-up (active surveillance); S, surgery; NA, not available; mDFS, median disease-free survival; mPFS, median progression-free survival; DFS, disease-free survival; PFS, progression-free survival.

a)Number of pathological complete responders to chemoradiation therapy, followed by surgical resection. b)Number of clinical complete responders to chemoradiation therapy, managed with active surveillance without surgical intervention.