Station-Specific Lymph Node Metastasis After Neoadjuvant Chemoimmunotherapy for Middle Thoracic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Brief summary (registry, in English)

Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy (NCIT) is increasingly used for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the station-specific distribution of residual lymph node metastasis after NCIT remains incompletely characterized, and whether a pathologic complete response of the primary tumor implies nodal clearance is unclear. This single-center retrospective cohort study included consecutive patients with middle thoracic ESCC who underwent esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy (at least 15 nodes retrieved) between June 2012 and June 2025. Station-specific lymph node metastasis rates were analyzed in the NCIT group (n = 272) according to residual pathologic T category (ypT), and in the upfront surgery group (n = 445) according to pathologic T category (pT). The two groups followed different clinical pathways and were not randomized; between-group comparisons are descriptive only and no causal inference is intended. The study aims to provide an anatomic basis for surgical planning and postoperative risk stratification in middle thoracic ESCC.

What you commit to

• Study type: Observational
• Participants enrolled: 717
• From Jun 2012 to the primary completion date, Jun 2025
• No sites listed in no country
• Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them

Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.

Who cannot take part

Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.

Who the study is looking for

Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov