Survival benefit after neoadjuvant or adjuvant radiotherapy for stage II–III gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: A large population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVE: The standard treatment for stage II–III gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GEJA) remains controversial, and the role of radiotherapy (RT) in stage II–III GEJA is unclear. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the prognosis of different RT sequences and identify potential candidates to undergo neoadjuvant RT (NART) or adjuvant RT (ART). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, we enrolled 3,492 patients with resectable stage II–III GEJA from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, subsequently assigned to three categories: T(1–2)N(+), T(3–4)N(−), and T(3–4)N(+). Survival curves were evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier method along with the log-rank test. We compared survival curves for NART, ART, and non-RT in the three categories. To further determine histological types impacting RT-associated survival, we proposed new categories by combining the tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) stage with Lauren’s classification. RESULTS: ART afforded a significant survival benefit in patients with T(1–2)N(+) and T(3–4)N(+) tumors. In addition, NART conferred a survival advantage in patients with T(3–4)N(+) and T(3–4) exhibiting the intestinal type. Notably, ART and NART were both valuable in patients with T(3–4)N(+), although no significant differences between treatment regimens were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Both NART and ART can prolong the survival of patients with stage II–III GEJA. Nevertheless, the selection of NART or ART requires a concrete analysis based on the patient’s condition.