A Phase II Trial to Compare Efficacy and Safety of CRT VS Neo-CRT in Patients Who Achieved CCR for Esophageal Cancer

A Phase II Trial to Compare Efficacy and Safety of Definitive Radiochemotherapy VS Neoadjuvant Radiochemotherapy Plus Surgery in Patients Who Achieved Clinical Complete Response After Neoadjuvant Treatment for Stage II-III Esophageal Cancer

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy(Neo-CRT) plus surgery has been regarded as a standard of care for patients with resectable locally advanced oesophageal cancer. Many studies suggest that definitive Radiochemotherapy(CRT) has similar efficacy as neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy plus surgery for esophageal cancers who respond to chemoradiation. Herein, a single center prospective randomized phase II clinical trial will be carried out to compare efficacy and safety of definitive radiochemotherapy versus neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy plus radical resection in patients who achieved clinical complete response(CCR) after neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy for stage II-III esophageal Cancer.

1. Compare progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of definitive radiochemotherapy versus(VS) neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy plus radical resection for esophageal cancer patients who achieved clinical complete response after neoadjuvant treatment;
2. Compare the toxic and side effects of definitive radiochemotherapy versus neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy plus radical resection for esophageal cancer patients who achieved clinical complete remission after neoadjuvant treatment;
3. Compare the relationship and consistency between pathological complete response of endoscopic biopsy specimens after neoadjuvant treatment and pathological complete response of surgical specimens in neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy plus radical resection group;
4. Assess impact of definitive radiochemotherapy versus neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy plus radical resection on quality of life of patients.

Clinical Complete Response After Neoadjuvant Treatment: Endoscope biopsy pathologic diagnosis indicate pathologic complete response after Neoadjuvant treatment; upper gastrointestinal/chest CT and symptom assessment indicate clinical complete response after Neoadjuvant treatment (Concurrent Radiochemotherapy: Radiotherapy, Intensity Modulation Radiation Therapy(IMRT), 40Gy; Chemotherapy, Docetaxel （25mg/m2）+Cisplatin (25mg/m2), 1st/8th/15th/22nd day

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Thoracic esophageal cancer patients or esophagocardial cancer patients, with locally advanced resectable tumor, clinically identified before treatment as T1-3N+M0 according to UICC(International Union Against Cancer) TNM(primary tumor, regional nodes, metastasis) Classification of Malignant Tumours, 7th ed.
2. Untreated patients who have not received any antitumor therapy
3. Life expectancy >6 months
4. Age: 18-70 years
5. White blood cell count ≥4.0×109/l, ANC(absolute neutrophil count) ≥1.5×109/l, thrombocyte count ≥1011/l, hemoglobin ≥90 g/l; normal liver and kidney functions
6. WHO PS(Performance Status): 0-1
7. Patients who understood the study and gave signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who have already received antitumor therapy, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery;
2. Patients with hemorrhage or complicated hemorrhage
3. Other uncontrollable patients who are not suitable for surgery
4. Pregnant or lactating women
5. Patients who agree without acknowledgement as a result of psychological, family or social factors
6. Patients with CTCAE(Common Terminology Criteria Adverse Events Version 4.0) grade ≥2 peripheral neuropathy
7. Patients who have ever had malignant tumors other than esophageal cancer
8. Patients with a history of diabetes for >10 years with unsatisfactory control of blood glucose level
9. Patients with serious heart, lung, liver or kidney dysfunction, hematopathy, immune system disease or cachexia who therefore cannot tolerate chemotherapy or surgery
10. Others.