Induction Chemotherapy Followed by Chemoradiotherapy in Esophageal Cancer

Summary

The contribution of induction chemotherapy before definitive chemoradiotherapy is unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and toxicity of induction chemotherapy followed by definitive chemoradiotherapy versus no induction chemotherapy in patients with inoperable thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Timeline

Start

2015-05-01

Primary completion

2017-09-06

Completion

2020-05-30

Outcome

Missed primary endpoint

paper The ORR was 74.5% in the induction chemotherapy group versus 61.8% in the CRT alone group (P = 0.152). PMID 34188053 ↗

paper This trial did not meet pre-specified endpoints. PMID 34188053 ↗

Publications

• Background Ruhstaller T, Widmer L, Schuller JC, Roth A, Hess V, Mingrone W, von Moos R, Borner M, Pestalozzi BC, BalmerMajno S, Koberle D, Terraciano L, Schnider A, Bodis S, Popescu R; Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK). Multicenter phase II trial of preoperative induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiation with docetaxel and cisplatin for locally advanced esophageal carcinoma (SAKK 75/02). Ann Oncol. 2009 Sep;20(9):1522-1528. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdp045. Epub 2009 May 22.
• Background Koo DH, Park SI, Kim YH, Kim JH, Jung HY, Lee GH, Choi KD, Song HJ, Song HY, Shin JH, Cho KJ, Yoon DH, Kim SB. Phase II study of use of a single cycle of induction chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy containing capecitabine/cisplatin followed by surgery for patients with resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: long-term follow-up data. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2012 Mar;69(3):655-63. doi: 10.1007/s00280-011-1750-5. Epub 2011 Oct 4.
• Background Ilson DH, Minsky BD, Ku GY, Rusch V, Rizk N, Shah M, Kelsen DP, Capanu M, Tang L, Campbell J, Bains M. Phase 2 trial of induction and concurrent chemoradiotherapy with weekly irinotecan and cisplatin followed by surgery for esophageal cancer. Cancer. 2012 Jun 1;118(11):2820-7. doi: 10.1002/cncr.26591. Epub 2011 Oct 11.
• Background Ajani JA, Xiao L, Roth JA, Hofstetter WL, Walsh G, Komaki R, Liao Z, Rice DC, Vaporciyan AA, Maru DM, Lee JH, Bhutani MS, Eid A, Yao JC, Phan AP, Halpin A, Suzuki A, Taketa T, Thall PF, Swisher SG. A phase II randomized trial of induction chemotherapy versus no induction chemotherapy followed by preoperative chemoradiation in patients with esophageal cancer. Ann Oncol. 2013 Nov;24(11):2844-9. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdt339. Epub 2013 Aug 23.
• Liu S, Chen B, Zhu Y, Wang S, Cheng X, Wang R, Hu Y, Liu H, Li Q, Zhang L, Zhao L, Liu M, Xi M. Induction chemotherapy plus chemoradiotherapy in esophageal cancer: long-term results and exploratory analyses of a randomized controlled trial. Oncologist. 2025 Jul 4;30(7):oyae295. doi: 10.1093/oncolo/oyae295.
• Liu S, Luo L, Zhao L, Zhu Y, Liu H, Li Q, Cai L, Hu Y, Qiu B, Zhang L, Shen J, Yang Y, Liu M, Xi M. Induction chemotherapy followed by definitive chemoradiotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy alone in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a randomized phase II trial. Nat Commun. 2021 Jun 29;12(1):4014. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-24288-1.

Drugs

Evaluation	Drug	Modality	Dose	Route
Subject	Cisplatin	Other / unclassified	25 mg/m2	—
Subject	Docetaxel	Small molecule	20 mg/m2	—

Indications