Beta-elemene treatment is associated with improved outcomes of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic effects of concurrent preoperative β-elemene treatment in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received concurrent chemoradiotherpay followed by surgery.

Method: The clinicopathological parameters and outcomes of 102 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were studied and compared between patients treated with and without β-elemene.

Results: β-elemene treatment could prolong the overall survival and progression-free survival. The 3-year overall survival rate was also increased by β-elemene treatment. β-elemene treatment was an independent prognostic factor for both overall survival and progression-free survival. Occurrence of toxicities associated with chemoradiotherapy was decreased by β-elemene treatment.

Conclusions: Findings in this study suggested that β-elemene treatment provided survival benefits and reduced chemoradiotherapy-associated toxicities in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Keywords: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Overall survival; Prognosis; Progression-free survival; β-Elemene.