Recurrence and Survival after Minimally Invasive and Open Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer - A Post Hoc Analysis of the Ensure Study

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of operative approach (open [OE], hybrid [HMIE] and total minimally invasive esophagectomy [TMIE]) on operative and oncologic outcomes for patients treated with curative intent for esophageal and junctional cancer. The optimum oncologic surgical approach to esophageal and junctional cancer is unclear. This secondary analysis of the European multicenter ENSURE study includes patients undergoing curative-intent esophagectomy for cancer between 2009-2015 across 20 high-volume centers. Primary endpoints were disease-free survival (DFS) and the incidence and location of disease recurrence. Secondary endpoints included among others R0 resection rate, lymph node yield and overall survival (OS). In total, 3,199 patients were included. Of these, 55% underwent OE, 17% HMIE and 29% TMIE. DFS was independently increased post TMIE (HR 0.86 [95% CI 0.76-0.98], P=0.022) compared with OE. Multivariable regression demonstrated no difference in absolute locoregional recurrence risk according to operative approach (HMIE vs. OE OR 0.79, P=0.257, TMIE vs. OE OR 0.84, P=0.243). The probability of systemic recurrence was independently increased post HMIE (OR 2.07, P=0.031), but not TMIE (OR 0.86, P=0.508). R0 resection rates (P=0.005) and nodal yield (P