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Is trimodality approach better then bimodality in stage IIIA, N2 positive non-small cell lung cancer?

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant treatment followed by surgery is currently being investigated for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study reports efficacy, toxicity and feasibility of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with concurrent radiotherapy (CCRT) in stage IIIA, N2 positive NSCLC. METHODS: From March 2001 to February 2004, 52 patients with histologically confirmed stage IIIA, N2 positive NSCLC were registered. Patients received preoperative CCRT that consisted of weekly paclitaxel plus platinum chemotherapy and concurrent radiotherapy followed by surgery. RESULTS: Overall response rate was 76.9% (95% CI, 64-88%). The major grade 3-4 toxicities were radiation esophagitis (15.4%) and neutropenia (11.5%), and treatment-related mortality rate was 1.9%. Forty-two of 52 patients (80.8%) subsequently underwent surgical resection and 35 of 52 patients (67.3%) underwent complete resection. Among them, pathological complete response was obtained in 4.8%. Pathological downstaging rate to N0-1 and stage 0-II at surgery were 69.0% and 66.7%, respectively. The perioperative major morbidity rate was 23.8% and perioperative mortality was 2.4%. At a median follow-up of 33.9 months (range: 16.4-49.9), the median progression-free survival and overall survival were 16.5 months (95% CI, 6.2-26.8) and 25.6 months (95% CI, 14.6-36.6), respectively. Multivariate analyses identified that patients achieved mediastinal nodal clearance (downstage to pathological N0 or N1) after CCRT (p=0.02) and age at diagnosis<60 years (p=0.01) showed significantly improved survival. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant CCRT showed a high overall response rate with tolerable toxicity profile. Downstaging after CCRT may increase the rate of complete tumor resection and result in survival benefit in stage IIIA, N2 positive NSCLC patients.

Adult↗

Induction chemotherapy as initial treatment for advanced head and neck cancer: a model for the multidisciplinary treatment of solid tumors.

The role of chemotherapy in the management of patients with SCCHN has not been adequately defined. For patients with recurrent or metastatic disease, several single agents can induce significant tumor regression in 20% to 40% of cases and provide palliation for the individual with a symptomatic or life-threatening lesion. However, complete or long-term control of tumor with chemotherapy alone remains poor. In addition, current regimens of combination chemotherapy have not proved superior to single agents in this setting. Thus, the routine use of combination chemotherapy for patients with metastatic or recurrent SCCHN cannot be justified outside an investigational study. New single agents of promise must be sought and more active combinations of chemotherapy devised for the treatment of patients with metastatic or recurrent SCCHN. Strategies for drug development include the investigation of cisplatin analogues, such as iproplatin and carboplatin, the exploitation of potentially synergistic drug schedules, and the administration of chemotherapy by continuous infusion. That the use of continuous-infusion drug delivery can enhance antitumor activity and limit toxicity for patients with recurrent or metastatic SCCHN was convincingly demonstrated by Kish and co-workers132 in a randomized trial of cisplatin with either bolus or continous-infusion 5-fluourouracil. The antitumor activity of combination chemotherapy may also be increased by the use of mid-cycle nonmyelosuppressive agents, such as methotrexate with leucovorin rescue, or the administration of alternating cycles of non-cross-resistant regimens of combination chemotherapy. The optimal use of chemotherapy in the multidisciplinary treatment of patients with previously untreated SCCHN must also be clarified. Uncontrolled studies of induction chemotherapy report increasingly positive results. Several regimens of induction combination chemotherapy are now associated with significant tumor regression in 70% to 90% of patients, and complete clinical regression of tumor in 20% to 50%. Of patients with a complete clinical response to induction chemotherapy, a complete pathologic response has been documented in 30% to 70% of patients who undergo surgical resection after chemotherapy. It is now evident that patients achieving a complete response to induction chemotherapy have a high probability of local-regional control of tumor and cure. Conversely, patients not responding to induction chemotherapy fare poorly regardless of subsequent local treatment, and it may be appropriate to defer excessively morbid surgical procedures in this patient populus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Determinants of response to a cisplatin-based regimen as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in stage IB-IIB invasive cervical cancer.

The response rate and the determinants of response to a cisplatin-based regimen of neodjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in women with a histologically confirmed first-diagnosis of invasive bulky stage IB-IIB cervical cancer are analyzed. A total of 79 cases were treated with cisplatin (40 mg/m2) each 7 days for seven courses. During the first, fourth, and seventh cycles, ifosfamide (3.5 g/m2) was given by infusion for 24 hr. At the end of the seven cycles, 51 had a partial response (64.5%) and 4 a complete pathological response (5.1%). The overall 24-month cumulative survival was 80%, being 93% in responders and 43% in nonresponders (log-rank test, P < 0.05). With respect to the 66 subjects for whom pretreatment status of pelvic lymph nodes was available, complete or partial response was obtained in 35 of 42 subjects with negative pelvic lymph nodes at computed tomography, but in only 13 of 24 with positive lymph nodes. The corresponding odds ratios of response was 0.2 for women with positive status in comparison with those with negative status (95% confidence interval, 0.1-0.4). With respect to the 66 women who underwent surgery after NACT, of the 24 women with pretreatment positive lymph nodal status, 15 had positive nodes at surgery, but in 9 cases the histological analysis of nodes showed negative findings. Positive nodes at surgery were observed in 2 of the 42 subjects with negative nodes before treatment.

Adult↗

Paclitaxel, cisplatin, and epirubicin first-line chemotherapy in stage III and IV ovarian carcinoma: long-term results of a phase II study.

BACKGROUND: The combination of paclitaxel with cisplatin or carboplatin has become the preferred chemotherapy regimen in the treatment of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Anthracyclines also have activity in this disease. We conducted a Phase II study by using the combination of paclitaxel, cisplatin, and epirubicin for the treatment of advanced ovarian carcinoma. METHODS: Forty consecutive patients with optimally (n = 7) or suboptimally (n = 33) debulked advanced ovarian carcinoma (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Stage III or IV) were treated with paclitaxel, 135 mg/m(2), as a 3-hour intravenous infusion, cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) intravenously (i.v.), and epirubicin 50 mg/m(2) i.v. every 3 weeks on an outpatient basis. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor was administered at a dose of 5 microg/kg/day on Days 5-9. RESULTS: Among 28 patients with measurable disease, 24 (86%%) achieved an objective response including 19 complete and 5 partial responses. Among 18 patients who underwent reassessment laparotomy, pathologic complete response was confirmed in 9 patients. At a minimum follow-up of 40 months, the median overall survival had not been reached whereas the median time to progression for all patients was 18.7 months. The median remission duration for women with measurable disease who responded to treatment was 14 months. The treatment was well tolerated without toxic deaths; the most common toxicity was Grade 3/4 neutropenia that occurred in 30% of patients. Significant neuropathy (Grade 2 or higher) developed in only 8% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of paclitaxel, cisplatin, and epirubicin is a well tolerated outpatient regimen with significant activity in the treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

Adult↗

High-dose cisplatin and cyclophosphamide with glutathione in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: On the basis of preliminary results achieved with a high-dose cisplatin regimen including glutathione as chemoprotector, the efficacy and toxicity of the new regimen was further evaluated in a larger series of patients with advanced ovarian cancer (stage III and IV). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included patients with bulky or extensive residual disease after primary laparotomy or with bulky inoperable tumor masses. A total of 79 patients were treated with up to five courses of high-dose cisplatin (40 mg/m2 daily in normal saline, for four days) plus glutathione (2500 mg as a short-term infusion before cisplatin), together with cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m2 as an i.v. bolus on day 4). A standard i.v. hydration consisting of a total of 2000 ml of fluids without diuretics was employed. RESULTS: All eligible patients, who received a total of 345 courses, were assessed for response and toxicity and 52 received the planned five courses of the protocol. Forty-five patients (57%) achieved complete clinical responses and 20 (25%) had partial remissions for an overall response rate of 82%. The response rate was critically dependent on tumor size before chemotherapy. Thirty-eight of 45 patients who had complete clinical responses underwent second-look laparotomy, and 29 had pathological complete responses (37%). Seventeen of these 29 patients subsequently relapsed (median disease-free interval, 12 months; range, 6-45). With a median follow-up time of 44 months, the median survival for the 79 analyzed cases was 40 months. The toxicity of the regimen was moderate. Nausea/vomiting was the most severe acute toxicity. Myelotoxicity was acceptable, with severe leukopenia and thrombocytopenia (grade 4) occurring in 8% and 3% of patients, respectively. Nephrotoxicity was minimal with a transient increase (to < 2 mg/dL) in serum creatinine in only 6 patients (8%). Peripheral neurotoxicity and ototoxicity were the most significant long-term toxicities. The severity of these side effects (grade 3 WHO neurotoxicity occurred in only 4% of patients) was apparently less than has been reported with other high-dose cisplatin regimens. Neurotoxicity required discontinuation of therapy in three patients after four courses. Most affected patients had complete or partial recovery of symptoms with time. DISCUSSION: The efficacy and tolerability of the regimen confirm the feasibility of this new approach including glutathione in order to increase cisplatin dose intensity. The superiority of this regimen over standard induction therapy should be confirmed in randomized trials.

Adult↗

Antitumoral activity of human fibroblast interferon administered intranodularly.

Human fibroblast interferon was given intranodularly to 14 patients with cutaneous metastases from breast cancer and malignant melanoma; 1,000,000 units/cm3 of tumor tissue was administered daily for 8-10 days. 13 patients were evaluated. Complete response was achieved in 1 of 7 breast carcinoma nodules and in 2 of 6 melanoma nodules; partial response was achieved in 1 of 7 breast carcinoma and in 3 of 6 melanoma nodules. The overall objective response was therefore 7 of 13 (53.8%) metastatic nodules. Pathological complete response was confirmed in 2 of 3 complete clinical responses. Necrosis, lymphocytic infiltration and fibrosis were observed in all the specimens pathologically examined. In spite of a clear antitumoral activity, this approach does not appear to have clinical significance due to its extremely localized effect.

Adult↗

Biweekly docetaxel and gemcitabine as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in stage II and III breast cancer patients: preliminary results of a phase II and pharmacogenomic study.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a biweekly neoadjuvant docetaxel/gemcitabine regimen in patients with histologically confirmed stage II and III breast cancer. In addition, a cDNA microarray study attempted to correlate pretreatment gene-expression profile with clinical and pathologic responses. Docetaxel 65 mg/m(2) was given in a 60-minute intravenous infusion followed by gemcitabine 2,500 mg/m(2) in a 30-minute intravenous infusion every 2 weeks for six cycles; prophylaxis with growth factors was allowed. Four cycles of standard AC (doxorubicin 60 mg/m(2) and cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m(2)every 21 days) was routinely delivered to all patients postsurgery. Thirty patients are accrued on-study so far. The overall response rate for 24 evaluable patients was 79% (95% confidence interval, 9.7 to 53.5) with six complete responses and 13 partial responses. One patient (4%) out of 23 achieved a pathologic complete response in the breast at the time of definitive surgery. Breast conservation procedure was possible in 14 patients (61%). A total of 161 cycles has been delivered. Grade 1/2 alopecia and a mild grade 1/2 LDH increase were the most frequently reported adverse events (78% and 55% of cycles, respectively). Grade 3/4 neutropenia was reported in 18 cycles (11%). These preliminary results show that biweekly docetaxel and gemcitabine is an optimal regimen as neoadjuvant treatment of stage II and III breast cancer. In spite of the large tumor size, breast conservation was possible in 61% of the patients. In general, toxicity was very manageable.

Adult↗

Resection of residual disease in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors responding to treatment with imatinib.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Long-term survival of patients with metastatic disease has only been observed in patients with completely resected disease. Recently, the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib has been found to yield responses in the majority of patients with metastatic GIST suggesting improved resectability in responding patients. Combined treatment approaches including resective surgery after imatinib treatment in patients with advanced metastatic disease have rarely been explored. We report a series of 90 patients with metastatic GIST in whom treatment with imatinib enabled 12 patients with mostly recurrent and extensive disease to be considered for resection of residual disease. In 11 of these patients, complete resection could be achieved. Viable tumor cells were found in all but one resected specimens suggesting that despite favorable radiological or clinical responses, imatinib is unlikely to induce pathological complete responses. Until more mature data from prospective trials are available, these data suggest that an early aggressive surgical approach should be considered for all patients with metastatic GIST. Further trials investigating a combined surgical and pre/postoperative treatment with imatinib in patients with advanced metastatic GIST are warranted.

Adult↗

Anastrozole as neoadjuvant therapy for patients with hormone-dependent, locally-advanced breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the efficacy and safety of anastrozole as neoadjuvant therapy in a group of postmenopausal patients with locally-advanced breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was an open-label trial, which recruited patients with histopathologically-confirmed unilateral, locally-advanced, estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer (stage IIIA/B). All patients received anastrozole 1 mg/day for 3 months, after which the clinical response was evaluated. All patients with a complete or partial clinical response (cCR or cPR) underwent surgery (radical modified mastectomy), after which patients continued with the same therapy for two years or until progression. Primary end points were clinical response rate (cCR + cPR), surgery rate, pathological complete response rate and tolerability profile. RESULTS: cCR and cPR were seen in 61/112 (54.5%) and 32/112 (28.6%) patients (n=112), respectively, giving an objective response rate of 93/112 (83%) patients. Following surgery in responding patients, 14/61 patients (23%) had a pathological CR and 47/61 (77%) patients had a pathological PR. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant anastrozole treatment was highly effective and well-tolerated in postmenopausal women with hormone-dependent locally-advanced breast cancer.

Aged↗

A phase II study of neoadjuvant docetaxel plus doxorubicin (KBCS-01) in stage II, III breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: This multicenter phase II study was conducted to evaluate the response and safety of a combination of docetaxel plus doxorubicin as neoadjuvant therapy for stage II, III breast cancer. METHODS: Patients with stage II or III breast cancer underwent three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 and docetaxel 75 mg/m2 every 3 weeks followed by curative surgery. Prophylactic GCSF was not used. RESULTS: Ninety patients were enrolled in the study and 86 were evaluable for efficacy. The median age was 43 years (range, 30-69). The mean relative dose intensity was 0.98 for docetaxel and 0.98 for doxorubicin. Breast-conserving surgery was performed in 12 (13.7%) patients. The clinical overall response rate was 86% and pathologic complete response was 10.5%. Grade 3/4 neutropenia was observed in 26% of total 258 cycles and febrile neutropenia was observed in 15.8%. Pneumonia was observed in one patient and grade 3 mucositis was observed in three patients. CONCLUSION: Docetaxel and doxorubicin was an effective and well-tolerated neoadjuvant chemotherapy for stage II and III breast cancer. Clinical benefit of this treatment will be confirmed by survival data with long term follow up.

Adult↗

Cisplatin, methotrexate and vinblastine plus surgical restaging for patients with advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium.

Chemotherapy with cisplatin, methotrexate and vinblastine (CMV) is active in advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium. Aggressive surgical resection of residual disease following responses produced by CMV was incorporated into a combined modality approach. Between 1982 and 1990, 64 patients were entered into the study. Of 55 patients evaluable for response 11 (20%) had a pathological complete response, 14 (25%) achieved a complete response following resection of residual disease and 5 (9%) whose disease was not surgically restaged had a clinical complete response. The overall complete response rate was 55%. Patients with liver, lung or bone involvement had significantly decreased survival compared to patients without visceral disease (p = 0.002). With a median followup exceeding 50 months, 14 patients (22% of all patients entered into the study) were free of disease at 23 to 98+ months. There were no deaths related to treatment. CMV produced high rates of response in patients with advanced disease, including those with distant metastases. Surgical resection of residual disease following responses produced by chemotherapy proved to be feasible, without treatment related mortality, and may have prolonged survival in selected cases.

Adult↗

Neoadjuvant cisplatin, methotrexate and vinblastine for muscle-invasive bladder cancer: long-term followup.

A total of 26 patients with locally advanced bladder cancer received chemotherapy consisting of cisplatin, methotrexate and vinblastine. Radical cystectomy was performed in 24 of 26 patients (92%) receiving neoadjuvant therapy, with a pathological complete response in 6 (23%) and pathological partial response in 1 (4%) for an overall response rate of 35% (95% confidence limits 17 to 56%). The overall median survival time is currently undefined. Of the patients 15 (58%) are alive with a median followup of 48.6 months. Response rates from this neoadjuvant chemotherapy appear to be similar to those reported with methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin, and may represent a therapeutically equivalent regimen but neither may be curative in the majority of the patients.

Adult↗

Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion with cisplatin in four patients with sarcomas of soft tissue and bone.

The value of hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion (HILP) with cisplatin in the management of locally advanced soft tissue sarcomas or metastatic bone sarcoma was studied. Four patients were treated with HILP under mild hyperthermia (39-40 degrees C) with 20-30 mg cisplatin/l perfused limb volume. Toxicity in the perfused limbs was moderate, and the erythema and oedema that occurred resolved spontaneously within 7-14 days as did the slight motor and sensory neuropathy over a longer period of time. Clinically, a reduction of pain was observed in all patients. Two weeks after perfusion, tumour biopsies were taken to evaluate tumour response. Two patients showed a pathological complete response, one patient showed >90% necrosis and one patient showed no response. Currently patients are treated with tumour necrosis factor and melphalan as perfusion agents. The above-mentioned results make the combination of tumour necrosis factor with cisplatin in the isolated limb perfusion setting an interesting option.

Adult↗

'Quick course' neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin, bleomycin and vincristine in advanced cervical cancer.

To evaluate the response and safety of 'quick course' neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 30 patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of cervix were given cisplatin, bleomycin, and vincristine weekly for 3 courses. The response was evaluated by subjective parameters and by standard response criteria. In addition to the marked improvement in symptoms, the overall objective response was 60% with a complete pathological response of 6.6%. Tumor volume decreased significantly (p=0.002) after chemotherapy. Patients with stage IB and 27% (3 of 11) of patients with stage II disease who became technically stage IB (stage reduction) after chemotherapy underwent surgery. Radiotherapy was given to the remaining patients. All patients tolerated the chemotherapy.

Adult↗

Neoadjuvant FEC 100 for operable breast cancer: eight-year experience at Centre Jean Perrin.

This study investigated the efficacy and tolerability of FEC 100 (epirubicin 100 mg/m2 with 5-fluorouracil 500 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2) every 21 days as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in women with stage I-III primary operable breast cancer. Forty patients were treated with 6 cycles of FEC 100, followed by surgery and radiation therapy. In addition, most patients also received an adjuvant treatment for residual disease (11 chemotherapies and 31 tamoxifen). After 6 cycles of FEC 100, the overall clinical response rate of 75% (CI 95%, 61.6-88.4) was achieved, 22.5% of which were complete responses. Breast conservation was achieved in 70% of patients. A pathologic complete response was confirmed in 6 patients (15%; CI 95%, 3.9-26.1) using Chevallier's classification and in 10 patients (25%; CI 95%, 11.6-38.4) using Sataloff's classification. After a median follow-up of 29.5 months, 3 metastatic relapses were observed. The principal toxicity of FEC 100 was myelosuppression; 51.3% of patients developed grade 3/4 neutropenia. Neoadjuvant FEC 100 was both effective and well tolerated in patients with early-stage operable breast cancer.

Anemia↗

Chemotherapy with vinorelbine, cisplatin and continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil in locally advanced breast cancer: a promising low-toxic regimen.

Primary chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer, usually an anthracycline-containing regimen, improves local disease control allowing for an initially inoperable tumour to be resected. The feasibility and efficacy of a regimen containing vinorelbine (V), cisplatin (P) and 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) as continuous infusion (ViFuP regimen) for patients with locally advanced breast cancer were evaluated. Twenty-six patients with a T4 breast cancer presentation (eight also had synchronous distant metastases) were treated with V (20 mg total dose i.v. on day 1 and day 3), P (60 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1) and 5-Fu (200 mg/m2/d as continuous infusion) all given every 3 weeks for a maximum of 6 courses. Eleven patients had an inflammatory breast lesion, 4 had a T4a and 11 a T4b presentation. Among those with metastases, 6 had one site and 2 had two sites of disease. After chemotherapy all tumors except one became operable. Objective response was observed in 19 out of the 26 evaluable patients (73%; 95% CI: 52-88%): fourteen had a partial response (54%); 5 had a clinically complete response (19%) and 5 had complete pathological response (20%; 95% CI: 7-41%). Seven patients had stable disease (27%) while no disease progression under treatment occurred. Mild or moderate side-effects included neutropenia (G1-G2 in 58% and G3 in 31% of patients), anemia (G1 in 19%), nausea and/or vomiting (G1-G2 in 92% of patients), mucositis (G1-G2 in 23%), diarrhea (G1 in 19%), plantar-palmar erythema (G1 in 12%) and alopecia G1 in 27% of patients. We conclude that the ViFuP regimen is well-tolerated and its use results in a high response rate. Thus ViFuP may be considered a relevant alternative to more toxic regimens, with an acceptable response rate. Despite the lack of a formal demonstration of equal efficacy with more toxic regimens commonly applied in locally advanced breast cancer, testing new modalities or drugs might provide a more fruitful strategy for relevant therapeutic progress.

Adult↗

Six-drug chemotherapy (hexamethylmelamine, doxorubicin, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-FU; CHAMP-5) for ovarian carcinoma: alternating sequences of combination regimens.

Twenty-five patients with previously untreated adenocarcinoma of the ovary (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, stages II, III, and IV) were placed on a six-drug trial (CHAMP-5) for 18 months. This trial consisted of 28-day cycles of hexamethylmelamine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin alternating with hexamethylmelamine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-FU. After a minimum follow-up of 31 months, 14 (56%) of the 25 evaluable patients achieved complete or partial response and nine (36%) achieved complete pathologic response. Although CHAMP-5 is effective in the treatment of ovarian cancer, the results in these patients are not substantially different from those achieved with hexamethylmelamine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin alone.

Adenocarcinoma↗

The role of neoadjuvant therapy in surgically resectable esophageal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of neoadjuvant therapy (NT) (preoperative chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or both) in surgically resectable esophageal cancer. DESIGN: A retrospective review over a 20-year period. SETTING: A tertiary academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: All patients undergoing surgical resection for esophageal cancer (N = 316) over this time period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Perioperative morbidity and mortality, local and distant recurrences, and overall survival. RESULTS: Patients undergoing NT (n = 106) had prognostic factors similar to those treated with surgery alone (n = 210). No increase was noted in surgical morbidity with NT (anastomotic leaks, reoperation rates, complications, or extended hospital stays). Overall survival was not improved by NT (median survival, 14 months) except in the subset of patients (11/83) who responded completely (100% histological necrosis) to preoperative chemotherapy (median survival, 79.2 months; P < .02). Complete response to radiation therapy alone was not associated with improved survival. Partial necrosis of the primary tumor was seen in 13 (15%) of 83 patients but conferred no survival advantage. Complete response to preoperative chemotherapy was associated with squamous cell pathological features and excellent performance status as measured by preanesthesia evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of NT did not increase perioperative morbidity or mortality. Only the subset of patients who had a complete response to preoperative chemotherapy showed a survival advantage. Excellent performance status and squamous cell pathological features were associated with an increased chance of complete pathological response following preoperative chemotherapy.

Adult↗