E1 | 12 min | Latest | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/18/1/112
Podcast based on: Sakai, M.; Nakazawa, N.; Kuriyama, K.; Okada, T.; Shiraishi, T.; Kumakura, Y.; Kimura, A.; Sano, A.; Yokobori, T.; Shirabe, K.; Saeki, H. Therapy-Induced Neutropenia and Poor Prognosis in Patients with Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer Who Underwent Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy with Docetaxel, Cisplatin, and 5-Fluorouracil. Cancers 2025, 18, 112. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18010112
Type: Article| Publication date: 29 December 2025
Summary: Therapy-induced neutropenia is a common complication that occurs during definitive chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer, but its prognostic significance is still unclear. In this study, we found that patients who developed severe neutropenia (Grade 3–4) during treatment had significantly worse overall survival compared to those with mild or no neutropenia. Notably, severe neutropenia was linked to greater reductions in lymphocyte counts at the time of cancer recurrence, indicating an impaired ability of the immune system to recover. These findings suggest that therapy-induced neutropenia not only reflects treatment toxicity but may also predict insufficient lymphocyte recovery and compromised antitumor immunity. Our results emphasize the need for further prospective studies to better understand the clinical and immunological consequences of myelosuppression in multimodal esophageal cancer therapy.
Keywords: esophageal cancer; chemoradiotherapy; overall survival; neutropeniaThis podcast provides a synthetically generated voice summary and discussion of scientific publications. The views expressed do not represent the views of the original authors, journals, or publishers. While efforts are made to ensure accuracy, this podcast uses AI-assisted summaries, so it may or may not introduce inaccuracies or omit important details. Listeners are strongly encouraged to consult the original publications or sources for full context and accuracy. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute clinical advice, medical guidance, or recommendations. The creators of this podcast are not liable for any errors, omissions, or outcomes resulting from the use of the information provided.