Survival analysis of 80 elderly patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma receiving definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy with S-1

This single-center retrospective study aimed to observe survival and prognosis of elderly patients with esophageal cancer receiving radical radiotherapy combined with S1 chemotherapy, and to preliminarily explore whether hematologic indicators or inflammatory indicators before radiotherapy are prognostic factors.We retrospectively collected data of 80 elderly patients with esophageal cancer who had received radical concurrent chemoradiotherapy from January 2015 to July 2018. The patients were older than 70 years. Radiation therapy was delivered with intensity-modulated irradiation therapy (IMRT) or volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), while the chemotherapy regimen was S1 alone. Toxicities were evaluated in accordance with the criteria of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. Baseline hematologic basic nutritional indicators, such as hemoglobin (HGB), albumin (ALB), and prealbumin (PAB), along with inflammatory indicators, such as the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes (NLR), the ratio of platelets to lymphocytes (PLR), were collected to preliminarily analyze their relationship with progression and survival.The median follow-up time was 39 months (range 30-65 months). The median overall survival and progression-free survival times were 24 and 17 months, respectively. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival rates were 76.5%, 48.1%, and 31.3%, respectively. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year progression-free survival rates were 57.5%, 37.8%, and 29.4%, respectively. T stage, clinical staging, and lesion region were independent prognostic factors for OS. No significant associations with prognosis were observed either for baseline hematologic or for inflammatory indicators (all P>0.05). The rates of esophagitis (grade 2 and above) and hematologic toxicity were 60% and 45%, respectively.Oral S-1 combined with definitive concurrent radiotherapy for elderly patients with esophageal cancer has a significant survival benefit. The toxicities are well tolerated. It seems that prognosis does not correlate with baseline hematologic nutritional indicators and inflammatory indicators.