The CROSS trial found that neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery significantly improved long-term overall and progression-free survival compared to surgery alone for patients with resectable esophageal or esophagogastric junction cancer. At a minimum follow-up of 5 years, median overall survival was 48.6 months for chemoradiotherapy plus surgery versus 24 months for surgery alone. Both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma subtypes benefited. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy using carboplatin and paclitaxel is now considered the standard of care for these patients.
Introduces the Journal Club and presenter information along with the layout of the presentation.
Discusses neoadjuvant therapy's role in esophageal cancer, highlighting survival benefits of combined treatments over surgery alone.
Outlines the aims, study design, patient inclusion and exclusion criteria, and pre-treatment staging for an RCT.Details treatment protocols for radiation and chemotherapy components, including dosages and schedules.
Describes follow-up protocols, primary and secondary end points focusing on survival and progression-free survival.
Provides trial profiles, patient characteristics, and toxicity observed during the study.
Presents median overall survival and progression-free survival rates for both treatment arms.
Details on locoregional and distant progression rates observed post-treatment.
Analyzes outcomes based on tumor regression and discusses limitations of the current study.
Summarizes conclusions on treatment efficacy and future ongoing trials compared to MAGIC for esophageal cancer.
Ends with the introduction of ongoing trials focused on preoperative chemoradiation strategies.
Concludes the presentation with a thank-you to the audience.
4
PRE OP.CT+RT+S VSS
AUTHOR MEDI
AN
FOLL
OW
UP
REGIMEN NO
OF
PTS
Ro
resection/
Dist Met
PATH CR LOCOREG
FAILURE
3-Yr
Surviv
al
SURVIVAL
DIFF
Urba et al 8.2 5fu+cddp+Vbl+R
T+S
S
50
50
90 60%
90 65%
28
-
19%
42%
P=0.02
30
16
p=0.15
Boset et
al
4.6 Cddp+RT+S
S
143
138
81
69
26
---
34
36
NS
Walsh et
al
1.5 5fu+cddp+RT+S
S
58
58
NR
NR
25 32
6
P+0.01
Burmeiste
r et al
5.4 5fu+cddp+RT+S
S
128
128
80
59
16
---
35
30
NS
Tepper et
al
6.0 5fu+cddp+RT+S
S
30
26
NR
NR
33 13
15
39
16
P=0.008
4.
METAANALYSIS OF NACTRTF/B SX VS SX
ALONEAuthors Trials Results Journal
John D .
Urschel et
al
9 RCTs
N=1116
3 year survival better in CTRT
f/b sx (p=0.016)
Locoregional reccurence less in
CTRT f/b sx (p=0.0002)
American jr of
sx(2003)185;5
38-543
Fiorica et
al
6 RCT
N=764
3 year mortality rate less with
CTRT f/b Sx (p=0.03)
Post op mortality high in CTRT
f/b sx (p=0.01)
Gut
2004;53:925-
930
Kaklaman
os I et al
11 RCTs
N=2311
2 year OS absolute diff 4.4% in
CTRT f/b sx
Treatment related mortality 3.4%
vs 1.7%( NACTRT vs NACT f/b
Sx)
Annals of sx
oncology
(2003)10(7);75
4-761
Val
Gebski et
al
10 RCTs
N=1209
2 year OS absolute difference
13% (p=0.04)
Lancet
oncology
2007;8:226-
234 5
Provides strong evidencefor a survival benefit of neoadjuvant
chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy over surgery alone in patients with
oesophageal carcinoma. clear advantage of
neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy over neoadjuvant chemotherapy has not
been established.
7.
The roleof neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy has
been debated for several decades.
In most randomized trials, no survival benefit could
be shown, and the trials were criticized for
Inadequate trial design,
Small sample size,
Poor outcomes in the surgery-alone group.
Meta-analyses suggest a survival benefit at the cost
of increased postoperative morbidity and mortality.
8.
AIM
To report longterm results of ChemoRadiotherapy for
Oesophageal cancer followed by Surgery Study
(CROSS )comparing neoadjuvant
chemoradiotherapy plus surgery versus surgery
alone in patients with squamous cell carcinoma and
adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus or
oesophagogastric junction at a minimum follow-up
of 5 years.
Study design
PhaseIII randomised controlled trial
368 patients
2004-2008
By eight Dutch participating centres (5 academic
and 3 large non academic centers)
11.
INCLUSION CRITERIA
Age18- 75 years
Adequate haematological, renal, hepatic & pulmonary function
WHO PS of 2 or better
Locally advanced T1N1M0 or T2–3N0–1M0 (6th E)
Histologically proven potentially curable SCC /
adenocarcinoma or large cell undifferentiated
Oesophagus or GE junction (ie, tumours involving both the
cardia and the oesophagus on endoscopy)
12.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA
Pastor current history of malignancy other than the
oesophageal malignancy
Previous chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy
Weight loss of > 10% of the original bodyweight.
Length and width of tumor more than 8cm and 5 cm
respectively.
13.
PRETREATMENT STAGING
History/Physical examination
Routine hematological and biochemical tests
Upper GI endoscopy with histological biopsy
EUS
CT scan of the neck, chest, and upper abdomen
USG of the neck
FNAC of suspected lymph nodes on indication
PFT
Surgery
In surgery arm-ASAP
InCT-RT arm-4-6 wks after completion of chemoRT
A transthoracic approach with two-field lymph-node
dissection was performed for tumors extending
proximally to the tracheal bifurcation.
For tumors involving the esophagogastric junction, a
transhiatal resection was preferred.
In both approaches, an upper abdominal
lymphadenectomy, including resection of nodes along
the hepatic artery, splenic artery, and left gastric artery,
was done.
16.
ChemoRadiotherapy for Oesophagealcancer followed by
Surgery Study (CROSS) trial
368 pts. (2004-2008)
Surgery alone
Preop
ChemoRT
followed by
surgery
RT dose -41.4 Gy/ 23# @ 1.8 Gy # 5 days a week
NACT- Carboplatin AUC 2 & Paclitaxel (50 mg/m2 of body-surface area) on
days 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29
Surgery-4–6 weeks after completion
17.
Toxicity monitoring- NCI-CTCAEVersion-3
Weekly laboratory tests
CBC
S. Creatinine
Chemo delayed if
WBC < 1・0 × 10⁹ cells/ L
Platelet count <50 × 10⁹ per L
Mucositis with oral ulcers or protracted vomiting
despite antiemetic premedication.
18.
Further chemotherapy waswithheld
Febrile neutropenia (ANC <500,temp >38・5°C)
Persistent creatinine clearance of < 50% of the
pretreatment level
Symptomatic cardiac arrhythmia or AV block
Major organ toxicity at grade 3 or worse
(except oesophagitis).
19.
PATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
Tumortype and extension
Lymph nodes,
Resection margins-R1 if tumor present at <1mm
from the proximal, distal, or circumferential margin
Response to therapy
Grade 1 (pCR)-no evidence of vital residual tumor
cells
Grade 2-- < 10% vital residual tumor cells
Grade 3-- 10 to 50%
Grade 4 --> 50%.
20.
Stratified according to
Histological tumour type (adenocarcinoma vs
squamous cell carcinoma),
Treatment centre
Clinical nodal status (cn0 vs cn1),
WHO performance score (WHO-0 vs WHO-1 vs
WHO-2)
No post hoc analyses were performed.
21.
FOLLOW-UP
I yr-every 3 months
II-yr - every 6 month
II-V yrs- annually.
Interim visits were - if complaints
(dysphagia ,unexplained weight loss , pain)
Adverse events were collected till the initial report
of this trial (2012)
Diagnostic investigations were only
undertaken as necessary during follow-up.
22.
Primary end point
Overall survival- Date of randomisation to the date of all-cause
death or to the last day of follow-up.
Secondary end points
Progression free survival- Defined as the interval between
randomisation and the earliest occurrence of disease
progression resulting in primary (or peroperative)
irresectability of disease, locoregional recurrence (after
completion of therapy), distant dissemination (during or after
completion of treatment), or death from any cause.
Progression free interval-treatment-related deaths
and non-oesophageal cancer-related deaths were not
counted as events.
23.
Locoregional sites
Mediastinum
Supraclavicular region
Coeliac trunk region.
Distant disease
Cervical and (para-aortic) lymph node
Dissemination below the level of the pancreas
Malignant pleural eff usions
Peritoneal carcinomatosis
Haematogenous (organ) dissemination.
24.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
Kaplan-Meiermethod –OS and PFS
Log-rank test – to ascertain signifi cance.
Univariable and multivariable cox proportional
hazards models to establish the effect of
neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in subgroups,
adjusting for baseline covariates.
Minimum follow-up-60 months
Median follow-up-84.1 months (range 61.1–116.8)
162 (95%) were able to complete the entire
neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy regimen.
30.
Grade 3 orworse haematological toxicity
13/171 pts (8%)
Most common leucopenia in 11 (6%)
Grade 3 or worse non-haematological toxicity.
18 /171(11%)
Anorexia in 9 (5%)
Fatigue in 5(3%).
Treatment related deaths
16 (9 v/s 7)
Median PFS –SCC
74.7v/s 11.6 months
HR-0.48 [95% CI 0.28–0.82]
Median PFS-Adenoca
29.9 v/s 17.7 months
HR-0・69 [95% CI 0.52–0.92]
35.
LOCOREGIONAL PROGRESSION
Reduction inlocoregional progression was already apparent during the first 6
months & remained significant after the first 24 months of followup
Effect of reduction in locoregional progression continued for an extended period
after randomisation.
36.
DISTANT PROGRESSION
Reduction indistant progression remained significant during
the first 24 months of follow-up but not thereafter.
Systemic effect of chemotherapy
Fewer local recurrence , less distant dissemination
OS ACCORDING TODEGREE OF TUMOUR
REGRESSION
Pts with > 50% residual tumour had a significantly worse OS as
compared to patients without residual tumour or patients with 1% - 49%
residual
No significant difference b/w patients without residual tumour and
patients with 1% - 49% residual tumour
40.
LIMITATIONS OF THESTUDY
?? Applicable to
Poorer performance status
PS 0 (84%) or PS1 (16%)
Middle and upper 1/3 of the oesophagus
82% of patients had lower third or junctional tumours.
Early oesophageal cancer
Only 14% patients
Raised risk of postoperative mortality without survival
benefit after NACT-RT in stage I–II oesophageal
cancers (FFCD 9901)
41.
CONCLUSION OF THISSTUDY
CROSS chemoradiotherapy regimen improves
long-term overall & progression-free survival in
patients with oesophageal and junctional cancer.
Improvement is statistically significant and clinically
relevant for both squamous cell carcinoma and
adenocarcinoma subtypes.
This should be viewed as a standard of care for
patients with resectable locally advanced
oesophageal or junctional cancer.
?? Ideal neoadjuvantstrategy
CF+ RT
ECF perioperatively
Pacli+Carbo+RT
RT- high dose / low dose
Chemo alone or chemoRT
44.
Applicablility for oesophagealand junctional cancers is questionable due
to small no of this group
Preoperative or perioperative chemotherapy is still regarded
as standard of care in some countries for patients with
oesophageal and junctional cancer.
Published in 2006 after a minimum follow-up of < 2 years, has not yet
reported its long-term results,
??survival benefit of perioperative chemotherapy will sustaine or not
MAGIC TRIAL
45.
Comparable outcome, interms of DFS and OS
A higher percentage of patients completed the carboplatin/paclitaxel regimen
(82% versus 57%, P = 0.010).
Hematological and nonhematological toxicity (≥grade 3) in the
carboplatin/paclitaxel group (4% and 18%) was significantly lower than in the
cisplatinum/5-FU (19% and 38%, P = 0.001).
46.
CARBOPLATIN-PACLITAXEL AS NEOADJUVANT
THERAPYFOR ESOPHAGEAL CA
Keresztes et al. JTCVS 2003
• Carbo AUC 6, Taxol 200 mg/m2 q3wk x 2 cycles surgery
• 26 pts – 100% completion full course
- 12% grade III/IV leucopenia
-95% improvement dysphagia w/in 1 wk
-61% major clinical response, 11% pathCR
-3 yr OS 64% for resected patients
D’Addario et al. Onkol 2002
• Carbo AUC 3, Taxol 75 mg/m2 days 1, 8, 15 q4wks x 2 surgery
• 19 pts -15.2% grade III/IV leucopenia, 3.2% grade III/IV
thrombocytopenia
- 83% overall RR, 17% pathCR
- 70% RR adenoca, 87% RR SCC esophagus
- median F/U 19 mo – 11/19 pts alive
47.
Higher radiation dosemore toxic
Three early postoperative deaths were seen, due in
part to acute respiratory distress syndrome and
all three patients received 50–50.4 Gy
48.
A- pacli+ Carbo+41.4Gy
B-Cis+5FU+50.4 Gy
Arm –A Less toxic
No difference in response or survival
MAGIC VS. CROSSUPPER GI. ICORG
(NEO-AEGIS TRIAL)
Adenocarcinoma of the Oesophagus
Adenocarcinoma of the Oesophago-gastric Junction
cT2-3 N0-1 M0
CT- 18FDG-PET and EUS in all patients
WHO Performance Status 0, 1 or 2
Experimental: A (MAGIC)MAGIC regimen: 3 cycles
ECF/X-Surgery-ECF/X
Capecitabine (625 mg/m2 twice daily orally)for 21
days/3 weeks also allowed (modification)
Experimental: B (CROSS)Arm B consists of the CROSS
protocol,