Table 1.
Baseline patient and disease characteristics and histopathological characteristics. For each parameter, if not otherwise specified, the number of patients and, in brackets, the percentage are given. The statistical comparisons were performed with Chi-square test and Kruskal–Wallis test. ECOG: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. 3DCRT: 3D conformal radiotherapy. VMAT: Volumetric modulated arc therapy.
| Characteristics | 5‑Fluorouracil/ Cisplatin (n = 63) |
Carboplatin/ Paclitaxel (n = 27) |
p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years, median (min, max) | 61.1 (42.3–77.7) | 70.1 (43.7–79.5) | <0.01 |
| ECOG performance status | 0.96 | ||
| 0 | 47 (74.6) | 20 (74.1) | |
| 1 | 16 (25.4) | 7 (25.9) | |
| Charlson Comorbidity Index | 0.02 | ||
| <4 | 23 (36.5) | 3 (11.1) | |
| ≥4 | 40 (63.5) | 24 (88.9) | |
| Female | 13 (20.6) | 10 (37.0) | 0.10 |
| Follow-up, months, median (min, max) | 28.6 (3.6–165.9) | 26.2 (2.1–58.4) | 0.12 |
| Behavioral factors | 0.09 | ||
| Smoking w/o regular alcohol | 22 (34.9) | 14 (51.9) | |
| Alcohol abuse w/o smoking | 6 (9.5) | 1 (3.7) | |
| Smoking and alcohol abuse | 18 (28.6) | 6 (22.2) | |
| Neither smoking nor regular alcohol | 15 (23.8) | 5 (18.5) | |
| Undetermined | 2 (3.2) | 1 (3.7) | |
| Tumor localization | 0.28 | ||
| Upper third | 2 (3.2) | 1 (3.7) | |
| Middle third | 29 (46.0) | 12 (44.4) | |
| Lower third | 32 (50.8) | 14 (51.9) | |
| T category clinical/ultrasound | 0.77 | ||
| T1 | 1 (1.6) | 1 (3.7) | |
| T2 | 6 (9.5) | 8 (29.6) | |
| T3 | 51 (81.0) | 17 (63.0) | |
| T4 | 5 (7.9) | 1 (3.7) | |
| Nodal status clinical/ultrasound | 0.76 | ||
| N0 | 11 (17.5) | 4 (14.8) | |
| N+ | 52 (82.5) | 23 (85.2) | |
| UICC stage [AJCC 8th edition, 2017] | 0.1 | ||
| II | 14 (22.2) | 12 (44.4) | |
| III | 44 (70.0) | 14 (51.9) | |
| IVA | 5 (7.8) | 1 (3.7) | |
| Radiotherapy dose, median (min, max) | 40.0 (39.6–41.4) | 41.4 (41.4–41.4) | |
| Radiotherapy technique | <0.01 | ||
| 3DCRT | 63 (100.0) | 24 (88.9) | |
| VMAT | 0 (0.0) | 3 (11.1) | |
| Surgical technique | 0.73 | ||
| Abdominothoracic esophagus resection | 52 (82.5) | 23 (85.2) | |
| Esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis | 11 (17.5) | 4 (14.8) | |
| ypT stage | 0.28 | ||
| ypT0 | 28 (44.4) | 12 (44.4) | |
| ypT1 | 2 (3.2) | 4 (14.9) | |
| ypT2 | 11 (17.5) | 5 (18.5) | |
| ypT3 | 21 (33.3) | 6 (22.2) | |
| ypT4 | 1 (1.6) | 0 (0.0) | |
| ypN stage | 0.09 | ||
| ypN0 | 48 (76.2) | 16 (59.3) | |
| ypN1 | 13 (20.6) | 7 (25.9) | |
| ypN2 | 2 (3.2) | 4 (14.8) | |
| Resection status: R0 | 63 (100) | 27 (100) | |
| Pathological complete response | 26 (41.3) | 9 (33.3) | 0.48 |