The Efficacy and Safety of Endostatin Combined with Definitive Chemoradiotherapy for Unresectable Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background/Aims: This retrospective analysis examined the efficacy and safety of combined endostatin and definite chemoradiotherapy in patients with unresectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: The current study was a retrospective analysis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with endostatin combined with definitive chemoradiotherapy. The patients received induction chemotherapy or concurrent chemotherapy. The endostatin dose was 30 mg/d from days one to five of each induction cycle. During concurrent therapy, the endostatin dose was 30 mg/d concomitant with radiotherapy at 60-68 Gy delivered in 2.0-2.2 Gy/d fractions. Results: The objective response and disease control rates were 82.76% and 84.48%, respectively. The one-year, two-year, and three-year overall survival rates were 91.83%, 86.43%, and 73.86%, respectively. The one-year, two-year, and three-year progress-free survival rates were 74.09%, 62.16%, and 61.95%, respectively. The most common grade 3 and 4 adverse events were esophagitis (31.03%), anemia (12.07%), pneumonia (12.07%), leukopenia (10.34%), neutropenia (8.62%) and thrombocytopenia (8.62%). Conclusions: A combination of endostatin with definite chemoradiotherapy in patients with unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma achieved high response rates, progress-free survival rates, and overall survival rates. The toxicity was acceptable. Nevertheless, additional prospective randomized controlled clinical trials will be needed to confirm the superiority of this treatment strategy.