OBJECTIVE:To observe the clinical efficacy of taxol combined with cisplatin neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of esophageal cancer and effects on serum tumor markers in patients with esophageal cancer. METHODS:100 patients with esophageal cancer were randomly divided into control group(50 cases) and observation group(50 cases). Observation group was given taxol+Cisplatin injection(TP)neoadjuvant chemotherapy,given 175 mg/m2 taxol by intravenous infusion,d1-5. And ev-ery 5 d was a treatment course,the regimen was adjusted based on patients’efficacy;control group was given conventional sur-gery and TP after surgery,the same usage and dosage as observation group,it lasted for 4 courses. Clinical efficacy,high mobility protein B1(HMGB1),carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) level in 2 groups before and after treatment were observed,objective response rate,disease control rate,the incidence of toxicity and severe toxicity,inci-dence of postoperative complications and survival rate of postoperative 1,3 and 5 years were recorded. RESULTS:After treatment, objective response rate in observation group was significantly higher than control group,HMGB1,CEA and SCC-Ag levels were significantly lower than before and control group,HMGB1 and CEA levels in control group were significantly lower than before, the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05);there were no significant differences in the disease control rate,chemothera-py-related toxicity,severe toxicity,incidence of postoperative complications,survival rate of postoperative 1,3 and 5 years and the median survival time between 2 groups(P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Taxol combined with cisplatin neoadjuvant chemotherapy can significantly improve the efficacy of patients with esophageal cancer and reduce the levels of cancer-related indicators,with good safety.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of patients with esophageal cancer.Methods:The retrospective case-control study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 447 patients with esophageal cancer who were admitted to the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2020 were collected. There were 312 males and 135 females, aged 60(range, 37?82)years. Observation indica-tors: (1) clinicopathological characteristics; (2) treatment; (3) follow-up; (4) analysis of prognostic factors for esophageal cancer. Follow-up using telephone interview or outpatient examination was conducted to detect survival of patients up to December 2021. The total survival time was from the surgery date to death or the last follow-up. Patients with duration of follow-up more than 2 years were included for survival and prognostic analysis. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range). Count data were represented as absolute numbers. Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw survival curves and calculate survival rates. Log-Rank test was used for survival analysis. Univariate analysis was conducted using the Log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was conducted using the COX hazard regression model. Results:(1) Clinicopathological characteristics. Of the 447 patients, 69.80%(312/447) were males and 30.20%(135/447) were females, and there were 3, 18, 101, 229, 93, 3 cases aged 30?39 years, 40?49 years, 50?59 years, 60?69 years, 70?79 years, 80?89 years, respectively. About the pathological type, there were 424 cases with squamous carcinoma, 11 cases with small cell carcinoma, 4 cases with adenosquamous carcinoma, 3 cases with sarco-matoid carcinoma, 2 cases with adenocarcinoma, 1 case with neuroendocrine carcinoma, 1 case with undifferentiated carcinoma, and 1 case with adenoid cystic carcinoma. There were 2 cases with tumor located at cervicothoracic segment, 49 cases with tumor located at upper thoracic segment, 273 cases with tumor located at mid-thoracic segment, and 123 cases with tumor located at lower thoracic segment. There were 6, 24, 74, 59, 192, 80, 12 cases in stage pT0, pT1a, pT1b, pT2, pT3, pT4a, pT4b of pathological T staging, respectively. There were 207, 63, 142, 28, 7 cases in stage pN0, pN1, pN2, pN3, pN4 of pathological N staging by Japan Esophagus Society (JES), respectively. There were 207, 128, 76, 36 cases in stage pN0, pN1, pN2, pN3 of pathological N staging by Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), respectively. About TNM staging, there were 25, 53, 127, 174, 68 cases in stage 0, Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳa of JES staging, and 16, 9, 53, 35, 108, 96, 45, 85 cases in stage 0, Ⅰa, Ⅰb,Ⅱa, Ⅱb, Ⅲa, Ⅲb, Ⅲc of UICC staging, respectively. (2) Treatment. Of the 447 patients, 63 cases underwent neoadjuvant therapy(12 cases combined with immunotherapy), 384 cases underwent no neoadjuvant therapy. There were 347, 97, 2, 1 cases with surgical approach as right thoracic approach, left thoracotomy approach, cervical abdominal approach, left thoracoabdominal approach, respectively. There were 316, 5, 126 cases with surgical platform as totally endoscopic esophagec-tomy, Hybrid surgery, open surgery, respectively. There were 350 and 97 cases with digestive recons-truction as posterior mediastinal approach and intrathoracic approach, respectively. Surgical margin as R 0, R 1, R 2 resection was detected in 323, 116, 8 cases, respectively. Six of 447 patients died during the hospital stay. (3) Follow-up. All the 447 patients were followed up for 25(range, 2?48)months, including 233 cases with the follow-up more than 2 years. The median survival time of 233 patients was unreached, and the postoperative 2-year survival rate was 76.8%. (4) Analysis of prognostic factors for esophageal cancer. Results of univariate analysis showed that gender, neoadjuvant therapy, surgical margin, pT staging, pN staging by JES, pN staging by UICC, TNM staging by JES, TNM staging by UICC were related factors influencing prognosis of 233 patients with esophageal cancer ( χ2=6.62, 17.81, 32.95, 37.93, 27.06, 35.56, 45.24, 37.84, P<0.05). Results of multivariate analysis showed that gender, surgical margin, TNM staging by JES were independent factors influencing prognosis of 233 patients with esophageal cancer ( hazard ratio=0.48, 1.94, 1.46, 95% confidence intervals as 0.25?0.91, 1.07?3.52, 1.16?1.84, P<0.05). Conclusions:The incidence of esophageal cancer is relatively high in males, with the onset age mainly distribute in 60?69 years and the mainly pathological type as squamous carcinoma. Patients with esophageal cancer have advanced tumor staging, low proportion of neoadjuvant therapy, high R 0 resection rate of surgical treatment. Gender, surgical margin, TNM staging by JES are independent factors influencing prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer.

Objective:To investigate the application value of different surgical approaches in the radical resection of Siewert type Ⅱ adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG).Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 84 patients with Siewert Ⅱ AEG who were admitted to the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from March 2018 to March 2019 were collected. There were 65 males and 19 females, aged from 43 to 82 years, with a median age of 66 years. Of 84 patients, 24 cases undergoing radical resection of AEG via abdominal transhiatal approach (TH) were allocated into TH group, 32 cases undergoing radical resection of AEG via left thoracic approach (Sweet) were allocated into Sweet group, 28 cases undergoing radical resection of AEG via right thoracoabdominal approach (RTA) were allocated into RTA group. Observation indicators: (1) surgical and postoperative conditions of Siewert Ⅱ AEG patients in the 3 groups; (2) postoperative complications of Siewert Ⅱ AEG patients in the 3 groups. (3) Follow-up. Follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was conducted to detect postoperative life quality, tumor recurrence and survival of patients up to March 2020. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the ANOVA. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M (range), comparison among multiple groups was analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis H test, and comparison between two groups was analyzed using the Dunn Bonferroni test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the chi-square test. Results:(1) Surgical and postoperative conditions of Siewert Ⅱ AEG patients in the 3 groups: the operation time for Siewert type Ⅱ AEG patients in TH group, Sweet group and RTA group were 216 minutes (range, 190-230 minutes), 174 minutes (range, 152-185 minutes) and 295 minutes (range, 261-337 minutes), respectively, showing a significant difference among the 3 groups ( H=57.977, P<0.05). There were significant differences between the TH group and the Sweet group, between the TH group and the RTA group, respectively ( P<0.05). There was also a significant difference between the Sweet group and the RTA group ( P<0.05). The volume of intraoperative blood loss for Siewert type Ⅱ AEG patients in TH group, Sweet group and RTA group were 150 mL (range, 100-163 mL), 150 mL (range, 150-200 mL) and 200 mL (range, 150-263 mL), respectively, showing a significant difference among the 3 groups ( H=11.097, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the TH group and the Sweet group ( P>0.05). There were significant differences between the TH group and the RTA group, between the Sweet group and the RTA group, respectively ( P<0.05). The number of lymph node dissected for Siewert type Ⅱ AEG patients in TH group, Sweet group and RTA group were 15 (range, 9-19), 17 (range, 10-21) and 30 (range, 24-40), respectively, showing a significant difference among the 3 groups ( H=29.775, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the TH group and the Sweet group ( P>0.05). There were significant differences between the TH group and the RTA group, between the Sweet group and the RTA group, respectively ( P<0.05). The number of thoracic lymph node dissected for Siewert type Ⅱ AEG patients in TH group, Sweet group and RTA group were 0, 2 (range, 1-3) and 6 (range, 3-9), respec-tively, showing a significant difference among the 3 groups ( H=48.140, P<0.05). There were significant differences between the TH group and the Sweet group, between the TH group and the RTA group, respectively ( P<0.05). There was also a significant difference between the Sweet group and the RTA group ( P<0.05). The number of abdominal lymph node dissected for Siewert type Ⅱ AEG patients in TH group, Sweet group and RTA group were 15 (range, 9-19), 12 (range, 8-19), and 24 (range, 17-35), respectively, showing a significant difference among the 3 groups ( H=18.149, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the TH group and the Sweet group ( P>0.05). There were significant differences between the TH group and the RTA group, between the Sweet group and the RTA group, respectively ( P<0.05). The number of positive lymph node for Siewert type Ⅱ AEG patients in TH group, Sweet group and RTA group were 2 (range, 0-3), 0 (range, 0-3), and 5 (range, 1-6), respectively, showing a significant difference among the 3 groups ( H=7.729, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the TH group and the Sweet group, between the TH group and the RTA group, respectively ( P>0.05). There was a significant difference between the Sweet group and the RTA group ( P<0.05). The time to postoperative first flatus of Siewert type Ⅱ AEG patients in TH group, Sweet group and RTA group were 3 days (range, 3-4 days), 3 days (range, 3-4 days), and 4 days (range, 3-5 days), respectively, showing no significant difference among the 3 groups ( H=3.125, P>0.05). The duration of postoperative hospital stay for Siewert type Ⅱ AEG patients in TH group, Sweet group and RTA group were 16 days (range, 14-17 days), 14 days (range, 12-15 days), and 19 days (range, 18-21 days), respectively, showing a significant difference among the 3 groups ( H=35.244, P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the TH group and the Sweet group ( P>0.05). There were significant differences between the TH group and the RTA group, between the Sweet group and the RTA group, respectively ( P<0.05). (2) Postoperative complications of Siewert Ⅱ AEG patients in the 3 groups: there were 6, 6, 11 Siewert type Ⅱ AEG patients of the TH group, Sweet group and RTA group with cardiopulmonary complication, respectively, 1, 1, 2 patients with anastomotic leakage and 1, 0, 1 patients with AEG-related death, showing no significant difference in the above indicators among the 3 groups ( χ2=3.263, 0.754, 1.595, P>0.05). (3) Follow-up: 78 of 84 Siewert type Ⅱ AEG patients were followed up for 9.0 to 24.0 months, with a median follow-up time of 16.6 months. Cases with reduced respiratory function at postoperative 3 months for the TH group, Sweet group and RTA group were 4, 3, 5, respectively. Cases with gastroesophageal reflux at postoperative 3 months for the 3 groups were 3, 6, 7, respectively. Cases with weight loss at post-operative 3 months for the 3 groups were 3, 2, 4, respectively. There was no significant difference in the above indicators among the 3 groups ( χ2=1.009, 1.107, 1.112, P>0.05). Cases tumor recurrence and metastasis in the TH group, Sweet group and RTA group were 5, 7, 4, cases who survived at postoperative 1 year in the 3 groups were 19, 24, 25, respectively. There was no significant difference in the above indicators among the 3 groups ( χ2=0.897, 1.261, P>0.05). Conclusion:RTA appiled in Siewert type Ⅱ AEG patients has a longer postoperative operation time, increased intra-operative blood loss and longer hospital stay, while has better advantages in lymph node dissection.

Objective:To investigate the clinical application of Grunenwald incision in cervicothoracic junction surgery.Methods:The clinical data of 25 patients with cervicothoracic junction tumor and 1 patient with cervicothoracic junction trauma in the single treatment group of Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from December 2011 to September 2021 were analyzed retrospectively, including 19 males and 7 females, aged 9-73 years old. Among the 26 patients, there were 9 cases of upper mediastinal tumor, 6 cases of superior sulcus tumor, 4 cases of thyroid tumor invading the upper mediastinal, 4 cases of chest wall tumor, 2 cases of esophageal cancer combined with supraclavicular lymph node metastasis, and 1 case of foreign body penetrating injury at the cervicothoracic junction. Grunenwald incision or additional posterolateral thoracic incision, median sternal incision, neck collar incision were used in all patients. The degree of tumor resection was evaluated. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay were observed, and the postoperative follow-up was analyzed.Results:There was no perioperative death in the whole group. 14 cases were treated with Grunenwald incision alone, 6 cases with additional posterolateral chest incision, 4 cases with additional neck collar incision, and 2 cases with additional median sternal incision. The tumors were completely resection in 22 cases, palliative tumor resection in 3 cases, and complete foreign body removal in 1 case. Postoperative pathology included 4 cases of schwannoma; 3 cases of lung adenocarcinoma, thyroid cancer and myofibroblastoma, respectively; 2 cases of supraclavicular lymph node metastasis of esophageal cancer and lung squamous carcinoma, respectively; 1 case of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, metastatic carcinoma of the first rib after lung squamous cell carcinoma, ganglioneuroma, nodular goiter, hemangioma, well differentiated liposarcoma, vascular endothelial tumor and cavernous angioma, respectively. The operation time was 120-430 min, with a mean of(226.92±88.40)min. The intraoperative blood loss was 100-1 000 ml, with a mean of(273.46±196.34)ml. The length of hospital stay was 6-26 days, with a mean of(12.73±4.46 )days. 26 patients were followed up for 6-130 months, with a mean of(57.88±43.64) months. During the follow-up period, 6 patients died.Conclusion:Grunenwald incision can provide good exposure of the structures near the cervicothoracic junction, preserve the integrity of sternoclavicular joint, reduce shoulder deformity, and has advantages for patients with cervicothoracic junction tumors, high rib resection, and cervicothoracic junction trauma.

Surgery-based multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment is the preferred treatment strategy for local advanced esophageal cancer. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy have been recommended by the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) guideline. With the advent of immunotherapy, neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy has received much attention, and the first phase Ⅲ study has also confirmed that neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined chemotherapy is a promising treatment option. This article will review the recent advances and hot spots of neoadjuvant immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy.