Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39266786›Full record

Observational studyAnnals of surgical oncology2025

Safety and Efficacy of Conversion Therapy After Systemic Chemotherapy in Advanced Esophageal Cancer with Distant Metastases: A Multicenter Retrospective Observational Study.

Takayuki Tsuji, Satoru Matsuda, Yuta Sato, Koji Tanaka, Ken Sasaki, Masaya Watanabe, Yoichi Hamai, Motomi Nasu, Zenichiro Saze, Yuichiro Nakashima and 10 more

Abstract readMulticenter StudyObservational Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Annals of surgical oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing 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

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Observational
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
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

20 authors.

Takayuki TsujiDepartment of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Japan.
Satoru MatsudaDepartment of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Japan. s.matsuda.a8@keio.jp.
Yuta SatoDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery and Pediatric Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
Koji TanakaGraduate School of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University, Suita, Japan.
Ken SasakiDepartment of Surgical Oncology, Digestive Surgery, Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.
Masaya WatanabeDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery, Shizuoka General Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan.
Yoichi HamaiDepartment of Surgical Oncology, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
Motomi NasuDepartment of Esophageal and Gastroenterological Surgery, Juntendo University Hospital, Bunkyo, Japan.
Zenichiro SazeDepartment of Gastrointestinal Tract Surgery, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
Yuichiro NakashimaDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Cancer Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
Motoo NomuraDepartment of Head and Neck Oncology and Innovative Treatment, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Shun YamamotoDepartment of Head and Neck, Esophageal Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo, Japan.
Eisuke BookaDepartment of Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
Koshiro IshiyamaDepartment of Esophageal Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo, Japan.
Takeo BambaDepartment of Gastroenterological Surgery, Niigata Cancer Center Hospital, Niigata, Japan.
Katsuyuki SakanakaDepartment of Radiation Oncology and Image-Applied Therapy, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Takahiro TsushimaDepartment of Gastroenterological Medicine, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Nagaizumi, Japan.
Hiroya TakeuchiDepartment of Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan.
Ken KatoDepartment of Head and Neck, Esophageal Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo, Japan.
Hirofumi KawakuboDepartment of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPatients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with distant metastasis were treated with systemic chemotherapy. Recent advances in multimodal treatments have made conversion therapy a viable option for patients with incurable ESCC.

objectiveWe aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of conversion therapy for ESCC with distant metastases.

methodsConversion therapy was defined as surgery or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) used to cure tumors that were previously considered incurable because of distant metastasis. We conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent ESCC conversion therapy and assessed the treatment outcomes, including adverse events and survival rates.

resultsA total of 147 patients from 22 institutions were included. Systemic chemotherapy was initially administered to all patients. The most common M1 factor was the para-aortic lymph node, accounting for 55% of cases. Following the initial treatment, 116 patients underwent surgery, with 31 receiving CRT as conversion therapy. Postoperative complications in surgery patients included pneumonia (16%), anastomotic leakage (7%), and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (6%). During CRT, 18% of patients developed grade 3 or higher non-hematological toxicities. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 31.7%. Pathological responders had significantly longer OS than non-responders (hazard ratio 0.493, p = 0.012). The distribution of distant metastasis, regimen type, clinical response, and conversion therapy modality did not have a significant impact on OS.

conclusionsConversion therapy can be safely performed for ESCC with distant metastasis and has a favorable prognosis.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsChemoradiotherapyEsophageal NeoplasmsLymphatic MetastasisAdultAgedAged, 80 and overCarcinoma, Squamous CellCombined Modality TherapyEsophageal Squamous Cell CarcinomaEsophagectomyFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedChemotherapyConversion therapyDistant metastasisEsophageal cancer

Identifiers

PMID39266786

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.