Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31742897›Full record

ArticleThoracic cancer2020

Effectiveness of image-guided radiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

Yao-Hung Kuo, Hsin-Yuan Fang, Yu-Sen Lin, Ming-Yu Lein, Chi-Ying Yang, Shih-Chi Ho, Chia-Chin Li, Chun-Ru Chien

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Thoracic cancer, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Yao-Hung KuoDepartment of Radiation Oncology, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Hsin-Yuan FangDepartment of Chest Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Yu-Sen LinDepartment of Chest Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Ming-Yu LeinDivision of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chi-Ying YangDivision of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Shih-Chi HoDivision of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chia-Chin LiDepartment of Radiation Oncology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chun-Ru ChienSchool of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.ORCID 0000-0002-2365-7641

Funding

China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital DMR-109-015
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundImage-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) is an advanced radiotherapy technique to improve the accuracy of treatment delivery. However, a recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) for prostate cancer patients treated with radiotherapy either via IGRT or routine care (no daily IGRT) reported a statistically significant worse overall survival for those treated with IGRT. This raised the concern regarding the effectiveness of IGRT for definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (dCCRT) for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LA-ESqCC).

methodsEligible LA-ESqCC patients diagnosed between 2011 and 2015 were identified via the Taiwan Cancer Registry. We estimated propensity scores to construct a 1:1 propensity-score-matched groups and balance observable potential confounders. The hazard ratio (HR) of death as well as other outcomes was compared between IGRT and non-IGRT matched groups during the entire follow-up period. The impact of additional covariables was considered in the sensitivity analysis.

resultsOur study population included 590 patients in the primary analysis. The HR for death when IGRT was compared with non-IGRT was 0.92 (95% confidence interval 0.77-1.10, P = 0.35). There were also no significant differences for other outcomes or sensitivity analyses.

conclusionsIn this updated nonrandomized study using real world data, we found that the overall survival of LA-ESqCC patients treated with dCCRT was not statistically different between those treated with IGRT versus those without IGRT, although the hazard ratio was less than unity, ie, in favor of IGRT. The results should be interpreted with caution given the nonrandomized design and RCTs are needed to clarify our findings. KEY POINTS: Significant findings of the study: The OS of LA-ESqCC patients treated with dCCRT was not statistically different between those treated with IGRT versus those without IGRT, although the hazard ratio was less than unity, ie, in favor of IGRT. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: In this updated nonrandomized study using real world data with additional potential confounders, our study provided a reasonable tentative evidence of lack of RCT as suggested in the literature.

Indexed as

AgedChemoradiotherapyEsophageal NeoplasmsEsophageal Squamous Cell CarcinomaFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleNeoadjuvant TherapyNon-Randomized Controlled Trials as TopicPrognosisRadiotherapy, Image-GuidedRetrospective StudiesSurvival RateConcurrent chemoradiotherapyesophageal squamous cell carcinomaimage-guided radiotherapy

Identifiers

PMID31742897
PMCPMC6938750

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.