Search

PURPOSE: This study was designed to assess the impact of age and comorbidity on choice and outcome of definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) or neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy plus surgery.METHODS: In this population-based study, all patients with potentially curable EC (cT1N+/cT2-3, TX, any cN, cM0) diagnosed in the South East of the Netherlands between 2004 and 2014 were included. Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank tests and multivariable Cox regression analysis were used to compare overall survival (OS).RESULTS: A total of 702 patients was included. Age ≥ 75 years and multiple comorbidities were associated with a higher probability for dCRT (odds ratio [OR] 8.58; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.72-15.58; and OR 3.09; 95% CI 1.93-4.93). The strongest associations were found for the combination of hypertension plus diabetes (OR 3.80; 95% CI 1.97-7.32) and the combination of cardiovascular with pulmonary comorbidity (OR 3.18; 95% CI 1.57-6.46). Patients with EC who underwent dCRT had a poorer prognosis than those who underwent nCRT plus surgery, irrespective of age, number, and type of comorbidities. In contrast, for patients with squamous cell carcinoma with ≥ 2 comorbidities or age ≥ 75 years, OS was comparable between both groups (hazard ratio [HR] 1.52; 95% CI 0.78-2.97; and HR 0.73; 95% CI 0.13-4.14).CONCLUSIONS: Histological tumor type should be acknowledged in treatment choices for patients with esophageal cancer. Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy plus surgery should basically be advised as treatment of choice for operable esophageal adenocarcinoma patients. For patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with ≥ 2 comorbidities or age ≥ 75 years, dCRT may be the preferred strategy.

Background: Treatment for oesophageal cancer has evolved due to developments including the centralisation of surgery and introduction of neoadjuvant treatment. Therefore, this study evaluated trends in stage distribution, treatment and survival of oesophageal cancer patients in the last 26 years in the Netherlands.Patients and methods: Patients with oesophageal cancer diagnosed in the period 1989-2014 were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Patients were divided into two groups: non-metastatic (M0) and metastatic (M1). Trends in stage distribution, treatment and relative survival rates were evaluated according to histology.Results: Among all 35,760 patients, the percentage of an unknown tumour stage decreased from 34% to 10% during the study period, whereas the percentage of patients with metastatic disease increased from 21% to 34%. Among surgically treated patients 32% underwent a resection in a high-volume hospital in 2005 which increased to 92% in 2014. Use of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy increased in non-metastatic oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) and squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients from respectively 4% and 2% in 2000-2004 to 43% and 26% in 2010-2014. Five-year relative survival increased from 8% to 22% for all patients; from 12% to 36% for non-metastatic OAC and from 9% to 27% for non-metastatic OSCC over 26 years. Median overall survival of metastatic patients improved from 18 to 22 weeks.Conclusion: In the Netherlands, survival for oesophageal cancer patients improved significantly, especially in the period 2005-2014 which might be the result of better treatment related to the centralisation of surgery and introduction of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background Patients with resectable oesophageal cancer are treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) followed by surgery within 3–8 weeks. In practice, surgery is often delayed for various reasons. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether delaying surgery beyond 8 weeks has an effect on postoperative morbidity, long-term survival, and pathologic response in patients treated for oesophageal ADC. Methods Patients who underwent nCRT followed by surgery, for cT1-3, N0-3, M0 ADC between 2001 and 2014 were retrospectively included from a prospectively obtained database. Patients with a time from the end of nCRT to surgery (TTS) ≤8 weeks were compared with patients with a TTS >8 weeks. Results Of 190 patients, 65 had a TTS ≤8 weeks, and 125 had a TTS >8 weeks. Patient characteristics were comparable for both groups, but patients with TTS >8 weeks exhibited higher ASA scores (p = 0.013) and more comorbidities (p = 0.007). Multivariate analysis revealed that TTS did not significantly influence postoperative morbidity, pathologic complete response rates, and five-year survival rates (42% in patients with TTS ≤8 weeks and 37% in patients with TTS >8 weeks). Conclusions Delaying surgery beyond 8 weeks after nCRT did not significantly influence postoperative morbidity, pathologic response, and survival in patients with non-metastatic ADC. Therefore, it appears reasonable to postpone surgery beyond 8 weeks in patients who have not yet recovered from nCRT. However, if the patient is fit for surgery, postponing surgery does not have any additional advantages.

Background: We assessed the use of external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy chemoradiotherapy and chemotherapy in patients with metastatic esophageal cancer and evaluated the effect on overall survival.Methods: We included all patients diagnosed with synchronous metastatic esophageal cancer in the south of the Netherlands between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 2013. Proportions of patients treated with external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, chemoradiotherapy and chemotherapy were described with respect to the period of diagnosis, patient and tumor characteristics. Independent risk factors for death were discriminated.Results: A total of 1020 patients were included, 61.5% of these patients received palliative treatment with external beam radiotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, brachytherapy and/or chemotherapy. The use of external beam radiotherapy decreased from 44.5% in 1994 to 22.2% in 2013 (p = 0.0001), whereas the use of chemoradiotherapy increased from 2.9% in 1994 to 19.1% in 2013 (p Conclusion: The median overall survival of patients diagnosed with metastatic esophageal cancer improved from 18 weeks in 1994–1998 to 25 weeks in 2009–2013. Although this increase could be attributed to stage migration, our population-based study suggests that major changes in treatment strategies and appropriate patient selection might have played a role as well.

Background Preliminary data from the TRAP study demonstrated feasibility of neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT) with trastuzumab and pertuzumab. Here, we present updated survival results with propensity score matching, including potential predictive biomarkers for response to this treatment. Methods Patients (pts) with HER2+ resectable esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) received nCRT with trastuzumab and pertuzumab (Schokker et al, JCO 2018 suppl. 4057). Survival data was compared with patients not receiving study medication in the Dutch Cancer Registry, using propensity score matching (1:4) based on a logistical regression model, matching for baseline demographic and clinical characteristics. HER2 status was not included as a matching variable, since it was unknown in the majority of pts in the matched cohort. Associations between baseline F-FDG uptake on PET scans, measured by the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), or ΔSUVmax and pathological complete response (pCR) were assessed. Furthermore, expression of HER2 and growth factor receptor-bound protein (Grb)7 was assessed by immunohistochemistry on baseline biopsies. Results were correlated with pCR and survival. Results 40 pts were enrolled and pCR was seen in 34%. Progression-free survival (PFS) rates at 1 and 3 years were 83% and 72%, respectively, with 1- and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates of 90% and 71% (median follow-up 32.1 months). A statistically significant difference in OS was observed for nCRT with trastuzumab and pertuzumab compared to nCRT (3-year OS rate 71% vs 54%, p = 0.039). Baseline and post-treatment PET scans were available for 40 and 34 pts, respectively. Baseline SUVmax was not predictive for recurrence or death, neither did ΔSUVmax correlate with pCR (p > 0.05). HER2 3+ pts and pts with Grb7+ tumours at baseline demonstrated a significantly better response to treatment (p = 0.016 respectively p = 0.007). Conclusions Compared to a propensity score matched cohort receiving nCRT, OS of pts with resectable HER2+ EAC receiving nCRT with trastuzumab and pertuzumab is statistically better. Grb7 and HER2 3+ are potential predictive biomarkers for response to this treatment. Clinical trial identification NCT02120911 April 23, 2014. Legal entity responsible for the study The authors. Funding Roche. Disclosure R.H.A. Verhoeven: Research grant / Funding (self): Roche; Research grant / Funding (self): Bristol-Myers Squibb. M. van Oijen: Research grant / Funding (institution): Roche; Research grant / Funding (institution): Servier; Research grant / Funding (institution): Amgen; Research grant / Funding (institution): Merck; Research grant / Funding (institution): Nordic. G.A.P. Hospers: Advisory / Consultancy, Payment to institution: Amgen; Advisory / Consultancy, Payment to institution: Roche; Advisory / Consultancy, Payment to institution: MSD; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution), Payment to institution: BMS; Advisory / Consultancy, Payment to institution: Pfizer; Advisory / Consultancy, Payment to institution: Novartis; Research grant / Funding (institution), Payment to institution: Seerave. M. Bijlsma: Research grant / Funding (institution): Celgene; Advisory / Consultancy: Servier. M.I. van Berge Henegouwen: Honoraria (institution), Research grant / Funding (institution): Stryker; Honoraria (institution), Research grant / Funding (institution): Olympus; Honoraria (institution), Advisory / Consultancy: Medtronic; Honoraria (institution), Research grant / Funding (institution): Mylan. H.W.M. van Laarhoven: Honoraria (self), Advisory / Consultancy: Lilly/ImClone; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Nordic Group; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Bristol-Myers Squibb; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: AstraZeneca; Research grant / Funding (institution): Bayer Schering Pharma; Research grant / Funding (institution): Celgene; Research grant / Funding (institution): Janssen-Cilag; Research grant / Funding (institution): Lilly; Research grant / Funding (institution): Philips Healthcare; Research grant / Funding (institution): Roche; Research grant / Funding (institution): Merck Sharp & Dohme. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness of routine follow-up to detect contralateral breast cancer (CBC) in young women. Methods We used the data of the population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry, which covers the southern part of the Netherlands. Between 1988 and 2005, 1451 women aged ≤40 years were treated for early-stage breast cancer with breast-conserving treatment or mastectomy. Results Of the 94 patients who developed CBC 17 had an in situ carcinoma. Fifty-seven CBCs (61%) were diagnosed more than 5 years after the primary tumour. Forty-two CBCs (45%) were detected during routine follow-up visits, while 52 (55%) presented between two visits. Of the CBC diagnosed between two visits, only 27 (60%) were visible on mammography. Of the invasive CBCs more than 25% was larger than 2 cm in diameter and in 34% positive axillary lymph nodes were found. Conclusions These figures indicate that routine follow-up does not guarantee early detection of CBC in young women with breast cancer.

Background Few studies have focussed on the prognosis of young women with local recurrence (LR) after breast-conserving therapy and the factors that can be used to predict their prognosis. Methods We studied the outcome and related prognostic factors in 124 patients with an isolated local recurrence in the breast following breast-conserving surgery and radiotherapy for early stage breast cancer diagnosed at the age of 40 years or younger. Results The median follow-up of the patients after diagnosis of LR was 7.0 years. At 10 years from the date of salvage treatment, the overall survival rate was 73% (95% CI, 63–83), the distant recurrence-free survival rate was 61% (95% CI, 53–73), and the local control rate (i.e. survival without subsequent LR or local progression) was 95% (95% CI, 91–99). In the multivariate analysis, the risk of distant metastases also tended to be higher for patients with LR occurring within 5 years after BCT, as compared to patients with LR more than 5 years after BCT (Hazard ratio [HR], 1.89; p = 0.09). A worse distant recurrence-free survival was also observed for patients with a LR measuring more than 2 cm in diameter, compared to those with a LR of 2 cm or smaller (HR, 2.88; p = 0.007), and for patients with a LR causing symptoms or suspicious findings at clinical breast examination, compared to those with a LR detected by breast imaging only (HR 3.70; p = 0.03). Conclusions These results suggest that early detection of LR after BCT in young women can improve treatment outcome.

Objective: To evaluate axillary staging and management in patients with local recurrence (LR) after a previous negative sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB). Methods: Between 1999 and 2008, 130 patients with previous negative SNB developed a LR of breast or chest wall. After examination of clinical records, 70 patients met the inclusion criteria and remained available for analysis. Results: Thirty-seven patients were treated with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), followed by axillary radiotherapy in 9 cases. In 26 of these 37 patients no positive axillary lymph nodes were found. Nineteen patients received no treatment of the axilla at all. Of those, 9 were older than 70 years of age at diagnosis of LR. In 13 patients a second SNB was attempted, but was successful in only 5 cases. Eight patients underwent a complementary ALND. Overall, positive lymph nodes were detected in 13 of the 50 patients who underwent axillary staging, either by SNB or ALND. The median length of follow-up of the 70 patients following their diagnosis of LR was 24 months (range 2e81 months). During this follow-up period one patient developed an axillary recurrence. This was a patient who refused to undergo ALND but was given locoregional radiotherapy instead. Conclusions: In the absence of guidelines for staging and management of the axilla at time of LR of breast or chest wall, many different strategies are being used. Considering the high rate of positive axillary lymph nodes in these patients, repeat surgical staging is appropriate. 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background Invasive lobular breast carcinoma is known for its multicentricity and is associated with a higher incidence of incomplete excision after breast-conserving therapy. The aim of the study was to examine the influence of positive surgical margins on the local recurrence rate in patients diagnosed with invasive lobular cancer and treated with breast-conserving therapy. Methods All 416 women diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer and undergoing breast-conserving treatment between 1995 and 2002 were selected from the population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry. Their medical charts were reviewed and detailed information was collected. Results The risk of margin involvement was 29% after the first operation and 17% when taking into account the final margin status of the patients undergoing re-excision. During follow-up, 18 patients developed a local recurrence. The 5 year actuarial risk of developing a local recurrence was 3.5% (95% confidence interval 2.5-4.5) and the 8 year risk was 6.4% (95% confidence interval 4.7-8.0). There was no influence of positive surgical margins on the risk of local recurrence, neither in the univariate analysis nor after adjustment for age, tumour size, nodal status and adjuvant systemic treatment. Conclusion Patients with invasive lobular cancer, treated with breast-conservation, have a low risk of local recurrence, despite their high risk of having a microscopically incomplete excision of the tumour.

Among 1276 primary breast carcinoma in situ (BCIS) patients diagnosed in 1972–2002 in the Southern Netherlands, 11% developed a second cancer. Breast carcinoma in situ patients exhibited a two-fold increased risk of second cancer (standardised incidence ratios (SIR): 2.1, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.7–2.5). The risk was highest for a second breast cancer (SIR: 3.4, 95% CI: 2.6–4.3; AER: 66 patients per 10 000 per year) followed by skin cancer (SIR: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1–2.6; AER: 17 patients per 10 000 per year). The increased risk of second breast cancer was similar for the ipsilateral (SIR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.3–2.7) and contralateral (SIR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.4–2.8) breast. Risk of second cancer was independent of age at diagnosis, type of initial therapy, histologic type of BCIS and period of diagnosis. Standardised incidence ratios of second cancer after BCIS (SIR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.8–2.8) resembled that after invasive breast cancer (SIR: 2.2, 95% CI: 2.1–2.4). Surveillance should be directed towards second (ipsi- and contra-lateral) breast cancer.

Aims: The increasing use of breast-conserving therapy (BCT) and the rising incidence and improved prognosis of early breast are causing a substantial increase in the absolute number of patients with a late local recurrence following BCT. This study examined the characteristics and the prognosis of patients with a local recurrence occurring more than 5 years after BCT. Methods: In the period 1982-1997, 3280 patients with invasive breast cancer underwent breast-conserving therapy in one of the eight community hospitals in the South-eastern part of The Netherlands. Of these patients, 98 developed a local recurrence in the breast more than 5 years after BCT. Results: Eighty-five of the 98 recurrences were invasive, 12 were purely in situ and for one patient this information was not available. The 5 years distant recurrence-free survival rate of 85 patients with a late invasive local recurrence was 68% (95% confidence interval [CI], 56-80) and significantly better than the rate of 41% (95% CI, 33-48) in an existing cohort of 173 patients with invasive recurrence within 5 years after BCT (p=0.007). Local excision of the recurrence was followed by a significantly lower local control rate than salvage mastectomy (50 vs 89%; p=0.004). Conclusion: The prognosis of patients with a local recurrence more than 5 years after BCT is significantly better than of patients with local recurrence within 5 years after BCT.

The prevalence of coexistent diseases in addition to breast cancer becomes increasingly important in an ageing population. However, the clinical implications are unclear. The age-specific prevalence of serious comorbidity among all new breast cancer patients diagnosed from 1995 to 2001 (n=8966) in the South of the Netherlands was analysed in relation to age, stage and treatment. Independent prognostic effects of age and comorbidity were evaluated (follow-up was continued until 1 January 2004). The prevalence of comorbidity increased from 9% for those aged

In the present study, we investigated whether age and serious comorbid conditions influence treatment decisions, complications and survival in breast cancer patients. The Eindhoven Cancer Registry records patient, tumour and therapy characteristics of all patients diagnosed with cancer in the southern part of the Netherlands. Additional information on severity of comorbidity and serious complications was collected for a random sample of 527 breast cancer patients (aged 40 years and older). More than 70% of the patients >or=80 exhibited high severity of comorbidity compared to 6% of those aged 40-49 years. Treatment was not influenced by severity of comorbidity. Less than 30% of the breast cancer patients had complications after diagnosis. The number of complications was not related to age or severity of comorbidity. The hazard ratio (HR) of dying for patients with low/moderate severity of comorbidity was 2.4 for those aged 40-69 years and 1.6 for those aged >or=70 years, after adjustment for age, nodal status and treatment. For patients with high severity of comorbidity, the risk of dying was almost three times higher. Older breast cancer patients with serious comorbidity were not treated differently and did not have more complications compared to those without comorbidity, but they exhibited a worse prognosis.

AimTo evaluate trends in the risk of local recurrences after breast-conserving treatment (BCT) and to examine the impact of local recurrence (LR) on distant relapse-free survival in a large, population-based cohort of women aged ⩽40 years with early-stage breast cancer.MethodsAll women (n = 1143) aged ⩽40 years with early-stage (pT1-2/cT1-2, N0-2, M0) breast cancer who underwent BCT in the south of the Netherlands between 1988 and 2010 were included. BCT consisted of local excision of the tumour followed by irradiation of the breast.ResultsAfter a median follow-up of 8.5 (0.1–24.6) years, 176 patients had developed an isolated LR. The 5-year LR-rate for the subgroups treated in the periods 1988–1998, 1999–2005 and 2006–2010 were 9.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 7.1–12.5), 5.9% (95% CI 3.2–8.6) and 3.3% (95% CI 0.6–6.0), respectively (p = 0.006). In a multivariate analysis, adjuvant systemic treatment was associated with a reduced risk of LR of almost 60% (hazard ratio (HR) 0.42; 95% CI 0.28–0.60; p < 0.0001). Patients who experienced an early isolated LR (⩽5 years after BCT) had a worse distant relapse-free survival compared to patients without an early LR (HR 1.83; 95% CI 1.27–2.64; p = 0.001). Late local recurrences did not negatively affect distant relapse-free survival (HR 1.24; 95% CI 0.74–2.08; p = 0.407).ConclusionLocal control after BCT improved significantly over time and appeared to be closely related to the increased use and effectiveness of systemic therapy. These recent results underline the safety of BCT for young women with early-stage breast cancer.Keywords: Breast carcinoma, Breast-conservation, Local recurrence, Prognosis, Risk, Young age

Background: The use of sentinel node biopsy (SNB), lymph node dissection, breast-conserving surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormonal treatment for breast cancer was evaluated in relation to socioeconomic status (SES) in the Netherlands, where access to care was assumed to be equal. Methods: Female breast cancer patients diagnosed between 1994 and 2008 were selected from the nationwide population-based Netherlands Cancer Registry (N=176 505). Socioeconomic status was assessed based on income, employment and education at postal code level. Multivariable models included age, year of diagnosis and stage. Results: Sentinal node biopsy was less often applied in high-SES patients (multivariable analyses, ⩽49 years: odds ratio (OR) 0.70 (95% CI: 0.56–0.89); 50–75 years: 0.85 (0.73–0.99)). Additionally, lymph node dissection was less common in low-SES patients aged ⩾76 years (OR 1.34 (0.95–1.89)). Socioeconomic status-related differences in treatment were only significant in the age group 50–75 years. High-SES women with stage T1–2 were more likely to undergo breast-conserving surgery (+radiotherapy) (OR 1.15 (1.09–1.22) and OR 1.16 (1.09–1.22), respectively). Chemotherapy use among node-positive patients was higher in the high-SES group, but was not significant in multivariable analysis. Hormonal therapy was not related to SES. Conclusion: Small but significant differences were observed in the use of SNB, lymph node dissection and breast-conserving surgery according to SES in Dutch breast cancer patients despite assumed equal access to health care.

Purpose. To evaluate the trend in the use of primary endocrine treatment (PET) for elderly patients with operable breast cancer and to study mean time to response (TTR), local control, time to progression (TTP), and overall survival. Methods. Data of 184 patients aged >= 75 years, diagnosed with breast cancer in the south of the Netherlands between 2001 and 2008 and receiving PET, were analyzed. Results. The percentage of women >= 75 years with breast cancer receiving PET in the south of the Netherlands decreased from 23% in the period 1988-1992 to 12% in 1997-2000, and increased to 29% in 2005-2008. Mean age at diagnosis of 184 patients treated with PET in the period 2001-2008 was 84 years (range 75-89 years). Mean length of follow-up was 2.6 years. In 107 patients (58%), an initial response was achieved (mean TTR 7 months), 21 patients (12%) showed stable disease. A total of 64 patients (35%), with or without prior response, eventually displayed progression (mean TTP 20 months). No differences in TTR and TTP were observed between the patients starting with tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor. One hundred nineteen (65%) of 184 patients had died by January 1, 2010. In 17 patients (14%), breast cancer was the cause of death. Conclusions. Tumor progression was observed in a substantial proportion of the cohort, but only a small number of patients died of breast cancer. Further research is needed on the safety and effectiveness of PET for elderly women with breast cancer to justify the current widespread use.

Aim To investigate the long-term prognosis of patients with axillary recurrence after axillary dissection for invasive breast cancer and describe the long-term survivors. Methods Between 1984 and 1994, 4669 patients with invasive breast cancer underwent axillary dissection in eight community hospitals in the south–eastern part of The Netherlands. Using follow-up data of the population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry, 59 patients with axillary recurrence were identified. Results The median interval between treatment of the primary tumour and diagnosis of axillary recurrence was 2.6 years (range 0.3–10.7). The median length of follow-up after diagnosis of axillary recurrence was 11.1 years (5.7–15.6). Distant metastases occurred in 38 of the 59 patients. The 5- and 10-year distant recurrence-free survival rates were 39% (95% CI: 25–52%) and 29% (95% CI: 16–42%). Conclusions Axillary recurrence following axillary dissection is associated with a high rate of subsequent distant metastasis and poor overall prognosis but is not always a fatal event. Our results show that it is possible to cure about one-third of the patients.

Aim: This study was undertaken to gain insight into the risk factors for axillary recurrence among patients with invasive breast cancer who underwent breast-conserving treatment or mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection. Methods: In a matched case-control design, 59 patients with axillary recurrence and 295 randomly selected control patients without axillary recurrence were compared. Matching factors included age, year of incidence of the primary tumour and postsurgical axillary nodal status. Results: For patients with negative axillary lymph nodes, those with a tumour in the medial part of the breast had a 73% (95% Cl: 4-92%) lower risk of axillary recurrence compared to those with a tumour in the lateral part of the breast. For the patients with positive axillary lymph nodes the risk of axillary recurrence was 65% (95% Cl: 16-86%) lower for those who had received axillary irradiation compared to those without axillary irradiation. Within the age group

Background The aim was to gain insight into the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of axillary recurrence after axillary clearance for invasive breast cancer in a large patient series. Methods Between 1984 and 1994, 4669 patients with invasive breast cancer underwent axillary clearance in eight community hospitals in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands. Using follow-up data in a population-based cancer registry, 59 patients with axillary recurrence were identified. Results The median interval between treatment of the primary tumour and the diagnosis of axillary recurrence was 2·6 (range 0·3–10·7) years. In 51 patients (86 per cent), axillary recurrence was found by palpation during routine follow-up. Surgery was part of the treatment of recurrence for 41 of 59 patients. Regional control (complete eradication of axillary recurrence) was achieved in 34 patients (58 per cent). The 5-year actuarial survival rate was 39 (95 per cent confidence interval 25–53) per cent. Patients with negative axillary lymph nodes at the time of diagnosis of the primary tumour and complete eradication of axillary recurrence had the best prognosis. Conclusion Patients with axillary recurrence had a poor prognosis, except when complete eradication was achieved and axillary lymph nodes were negative at the time of diagnosis of the primary tumour.

Background The present phase II study aimed to assess the feasibility and efficacy of a new paclitaxel-based neoadjuvant chemoradiation regimen followed by surgery in patients with stage II–III esophageal cancer. Methods From January 2002 to November 2004, 50 patients with a potentially resectable stage II–III esophageal cancer received chemotherapy with paclitaxel, carboplatin, and 5-FU in combination with radiotherapy 45 Gy in 25 fractions. Surgery followed 6–8 weeks after completion of neoadjuvant treatment. Results Patient characteristics: male/female: 44/6, median age 60 years (34–75), median WHO 1 (0–2), adenocarcinoma (n = 42), squamous cell carcinoma (n = 8). Toxicity was mild, and 84 % of the patients completed the whole regimen. Forty-seven patients underwent surgery with a curative intention (transhiatal n = 44, transthoracic n = 3). Pathologic complete tumor regression was achieved in 18 of 47 operated patients (38%). R0 resection was achieved in 45 of 47 operated patients (96%). There were four postoperative deaths (8.5). Postoperative complications were comparable with other studies. After a median follow-up of 41.5 months (21–59) estimated 3- and 5-year survival on an intention-to-treat basis was 56 and 48%. Estimated 3-year survival in responders was 61%, in nonresponders 33%. Conclusion This novel neoadjuvant chemoradiation regimen for treatment of patients with stage II–III esophageal cancer is feasible. Results are encouraging with a high pathologic complete tumor regression and R0 resection rate and an acceptable morbidity and mortality. Preliminary survival data are very promising.