Postoperative Radiotherapy in Pathological T2–3N0M0 Thoracic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Interim Report of a Prospective, Phase III, Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

The value of adjuvant radiotherapy for patients with node-negative esophageal cancer is not clear. The interim results of this phase III study indicated that postoperative radiotherapy significantly improved disease-free survival and decreased local-regional recurrence rate in patients with pathological T2-3N0M0 thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma compared with surgery alone with acceptable toxicities. The distant metastasis rates and overall survival rates were not different between the two groups. Adjuvant radiotherapy should be considered for pathologic T2-3N0M0 thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Prospective trials to identify high-risk subgroups are needed.