Clinical Efficacy Analysis of Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Combined with Chemotherapy in Patients with Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Undergoing Surgery
JIANG Feie, LIU Qian, XU Shuonan, et al
The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Shaanxi Xi'an 710038, China
Abstract:Objective: To study the efficacy and safety profiles of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy (nCIT) among patients diagnosed with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and their impact on postoperative recovery. Methods: A total of 165 patients with locally advanced ESCC admitted to The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from January 2021 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. In line with the neoadjuvant treatment plan, the patients were separated into the control group (administered nCRT, with a sample size of 62) and the study group (receiving nCIT, with 103 participants). The postoperative pathological remission rate, incidence of adverse events, changes in immune function, perioperative indicators and incidence of postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Results: The R0 resection rate, pathological complete response (pCR) rate, and major pathological response (MPR) rate did not show significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). However, the occurrence rate of radiation esophagitis and thrombocytopenia in the study group was remarkably reduced compared with the control group (P<0.05). Regarding immune function, the percentages of CD8+ T cells and NK cells, along with the levels of IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α, were elevated in the study group relative to the control group (P<0.05), and the CD4, Shaanxi/CD8, Shaanxi ratio was decreased compared to the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the operation time, postoperative ICU stay time, postoperative chest drainage volume, postoperative drainage tube indwelling time and postoperative hospital stay were all shorter in the study group. Additionally, the total quantity of lymph nodes dissected was higher in the study group than in the control group (P<0.05). The overall occurrence rate of postoperative complications in the study group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: nCIT has advantages in reducing radiotherapy-related toxicity, improving postoperative recovery and reducing complications, and may be an optimal regimen for patients with poor tolerance to radiotherapy or those who need rapid recovery after surgery.
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