Treatment strategies and outcomes for elderly patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

PURPOSE

A multidisciplinary treatment strategy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is required to achieve prolonged survival. We aimed to clarify the differences in treatment strategies for locally advanced ESCC and the outcomes of elderly (aged ≥ 75 years) vs. younger patients (aged < 75 years).

METHODS

We compared the treatment strategy selection and the outcomes of 40 elderly and 160 younger patients with cStage II/III ESCC diagnosed between January, 2014 and December, 2016.

RESULTS

Nineteen (47.5%) of the elderly patients and 144 (90.0%) of the younger patients underwent esophagectomy and 9 (22.5%) of the elderly patients and 131 (81.9%) of the younger patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Ivor-Lewis or transhiatal esophagectomy was performed more frequently in the elderly group than in the younger group (P = 0.0096). The survival rate after esophagectomy was higher in the younger group than in the elderly group. The overall survival rate of the elderly patients who underwent esophagectomy was significantly higher than that in those who did not.

CONCLUSIONS

Esophagectomy is a practical choice for elderly patients with locally advanced ESCC, although reduced treatment intensity may impact long-term survival.