OBJECTIVEThe aim of this paper was to evaluate the treatment outcome of multimodal treatment for 196 patients with locoregional recurrent esophageal cancer after curative treatment and to determine the prognostic factors of recurrence.

METHODSOne hundred and ninety six patients with locoregional recurrent esophageal cancer curatively treated in our hospital were included in this study. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the survival rate. Log rank test was used to evaluate the difference between the groups. Multivariate survival analysis was conducted using a Cox proportional hazard regression model with a backward stepwise procedure.

RESULTSThe overall 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates were 29.8%, 5.9% and 4.0%, respectively, with a median survival time of 8.0 months. The univariate analysis showed that ECOG PS, the interval between initial treatment and recurrence, the regimens of initial treatment and retreatment were independent prognostic factors. The multivariate analysis showed that the regimens of initial treatment and retreatment were independent prognostic factors. Retreatment methods significantly influenced the survival. The median survival time of chemoradiotherapy, radiation therapy alone, chemotherapy alone, EGFR-TKI and best supportive care were 13.0, 7.0, 6.0, 4.0 and 3.0 months, respectively (P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONSThe prognosis of patients with locoregional recurrent esophageal cancer after curative treatment is poor. The main prognostic factors are the regimens of initial treatment and retreatment. Multimodal treatment including radiotherapy and chemotherapy may improve the long-term survival of the patients.