Total Neoadjuvant Therapy for Lymph Node-positive Adenocarcinoma of the OESophagus and Oesophagogastric Junction: a Phase II Study
Both neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CROSS) and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (FLOT) have demonstrated overall survival benefit over surgery alone in esophageal and esophagogastric junction (EGJ) cancer. Despite these survival gains, the prognosis remains poor, especially in patients with nodal-positive adenocarcinoma (cN+ AC) (5-year survival 36%, compared to 55% for cN0). This highlights the need for more effective treatment options, and justifies treatment intensification in these patients. The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy and feasibility of TNT FLOT-CROSS and TNT CROSS-FLOT in patients with resectable, cN+ AC of the esophagus or EGJ.
⁃ • Patients with cT2-4aN+M0 resectable adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus or EGJ (Siewert type I-II) according to the 8th edition of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) TNM classification for Esophageal Cancer who are planned to undergo nCRT or FLOT (43). In case of stage cT4a, curative resectability has to be explicitly verified by the multidisciplinary tumor board.
⁃ Clinical N+ status should be determined by EUS or 18F-FDG PET/CT. Clinical M0 status must be determined by 18F-FDG PET/CT.
• Maximum of 4 cm ingrowth in the cardia, measured by upper endoscopy.
• In case of tumor and/or lymph node involvement below the diaphragm, the most proximal involved lymph node station cannot be higher than N7 (Appendix C).
• In case of no tumor or lymph node involvement below the diaphragm, the most proximal involved lymph node station cannot be higher than N4 (Appendix C).
• Age ≥ 18 years. For patients aged 70 years or older, a geriatric screening tool (G8) should be used to assess functioning across the domains. If a patient has a score of 14 or lower on the G8, a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) should be done prior to inclusion (Appendix D).
• No prior abdominal, thoracic or cervical radiotherapy overlapping with the CROSS irradiation fields.
• No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for oesophageal cancer.
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of 0-1 (44).
• Weight loss \<10%.
• Adequate cardiac and respiratory function (cardiac or pulmonary function tests such only necessary in symptomatic patients).
• Adequate bone marrow function (White Blood Cells \>3x109/L; Haemoglobin \>5.5 mmol/L; platelets \>100x109/L). In the event of transfusions, the last red blood cell transfusion should be more than 2 weeks before inclusion.
• Adequate renal function (Glomerular Filtration Rate \>50 ml/min) or serum creatinine ≤1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) and adequate liver function (total bilirubin \<1.5x Upper Level of Normal (ULN); Aspartate transaminase (AST) \<2.5x ULN and Alanine transaminase (ALT) \<3x ULN.
• A negative serum pregnancy test in women of child-bearing potential during screening period.
• Use of adequate contraception during the study up to 3 months after the end of the study.
• Written informed consent and ability to understand the nature of the study and the study-related procedures and to comply with them.