Optimal Time-to-Surgery Recommendations Based on Tumor Shrinkage for Resectable Esophageal Cancer

A retrospective study analyzed the outcomes of patients with resectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LA-ESCC) who underwent neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Researchers found that tumor shrinkage rate is an independent prognostic factor for progression-free survival (PFS). For patients who responded to treatment, extending the time-to-surgery (TTS) improved overall survival (OS) and PFS. The optimal cutoff for tumor shrinkage was determined to be 45%. These findings suggest that delaying surgery can yield better outcomes for LA-ESCC patients who achieve significant tumor shrinkage.