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We aimed to evaluate the potential utility of the Robinson Frailty Score (RFS), the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS), and the G8 tool for predicting postoperative adverse events (AEs) in older adults with cancer. We included consecutive older adults evaluated at geriatric oncology service before undergoing oncologic surgery between September 2018 and December 2019. The RFS measures cognition, function, falls, comorbidity, albumin, and hematocrit. The EFS evaluates cognition, function, incontinence, self-perceived health, mood, nutrition, polypharmacy, and social support. These scales classify patients into three frailty categories (fit, pre-frail, or frail). The G8 score was dichotomized at a cut-off value of 14. The primary outcome was composite AEs including 30-day postoperative complications (≥Clavien-Dindo grade II) and discharge to an institutional care facility. The severity of surgery was assessed using the Operative Stress Score (OSS). Among 114 patients (median age 80 years, range 72–96 years), the main surgery types were gastrointestinal (62%), and head and neck (20%). Using the OSS, surgical procedures were classified as very low to low-stress (9%), moderate-stress (31%), high-stress (46%), and very high-stress (15%). Forty-five patients (40%) experienced postoperative AEs. After adjusting for the OSS, preoperative RFS was significantly associated with AEs (fit: 25%, pre-frail: 49%, frail: 77%; p < 0.01). However, the EFS (fit: 30%, pre-frail: 37%, frail: 60%; p = 0.14) and the G8 tool (score >14: 17%, score ≤14: 41%; p = 0.07) were not significantly associated with the risk of AEs. The RFS is predictive of postoperative AEs in older adults undergoing elective surgery for cancer. • Robinson Frailty Score (RFS) categorizes older adults into fit, pre-frail and frail status. • RFS is associated with postoperative adverse events (AEs) in a dose-response manner. • After controlling for operative stress, AE-risk was fit: 25%, pre-frail: 49%, frail: 77%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgery is the standard of care for T1bN0M0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), whereas chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is a treatment option. This trial aimed to investigate the noninferiority of CRT relative to surgery for T1bN0M0 ESCC. Clinical T1bN0M0 ESCC patients were eligible for enrollment in this prospective nonrandomized controlled study of surgery versus CRT. The primary endpoint was overall survival, which was determined using inverse probability weighting with propensity scoring. Surgery consisted of an esophagectomy with 2- or 3-field lymph node dissection. CRT consisted of 2 courses of 5-fluorouracil (700 mg/m2) on days 1–4 and cisplatin (70 mg/m2) on day 1 every 4 weeks with concurrent radiation (60 Gy). From December 20, 2006 to February 5, 2013, a total of 368 patients were enrolled in the nonrandomized portion of the study. The patient characteristics in surgery arm and CRT arm, respectively, were as follows: median age, 62 and 65 years; proportion of males, 82.8% and 88.1%; and proportion of performance status 0, 99.5% and 98.1%. Comparisons were made using the nonrandomized groups. The 5-year overall survival rate was 86.5% in the surgery arm and 85.5% in the CRT arm (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.05; 95% confidence interval, 0.67–1.64 [<1.78]). The complete response rate in the CRT arm was 87.3% (95% confidence interval, 81.1–92.1). The 5-year progression-free survival rate was 81.7% in the surgery arm and 71.6% in the CRT arm. Treatment-related deaths occurred in 2 patients in the surgery arm and none in the CRT arm. CRT is noninferior to surgery and should be considered for the treatment of T1bN0M0 ESCC. Based on more than 5 years of follow-up of JCOG0502, chemoradiotherapy showed comparable 5-year survival with surgery and should be considered a treatment option for treating T1bN0M0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]