Meta-Analysis of Concurrent Radiochemotherapy with Letinib for Advanced or Unresectable Esophageal Cancer Patients

Wang Jing; Liu Tianlai

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-5775.2026.01.006

Abstract：Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of concurrent chemoradiotherapy regimens containing reteracitabine versus other chemotherapy regimens for advanced or unresectable esophageal cancer using meta-analysis methods.Methods:The randomized controlled trials investigating the use of concurrent chemoradiotherapy for advanced or unresectable esophageal cancer were retrieved from databases including Wanfang,VIP,CNKI,Embase,Web of Science,and PubMed,with the search conducted up to June 2024.Two principal investigators extracted required data based on inclusion and exclusion criteria,creating tables to document risk of bias assessments.Meta-analysis was performed using ReviewMan 5.3 software to compare the retinol treatment group with control groups receiving other chemotherapy regimens.Evaluation metrics included objective response rate(ORR),disease control rate(DCR),1-year survival rate,and incidence of treatment-related adverse events.Results:A total of 8 studies were included,involving 733 patients,with 336 in the experimental group and 337 in the control group.Analysis showed that the ORR in the retitrated cisplatin group[OR=1.90,95%CI(1.33,2.70),P=0.000 4],DCR[OR=2.74,95%CI(1.46,5.13),P=0.002],and 1-year survival rate[OR=1.87,95%CI(1.16,3.03),P=0.01]were superior to those in the control group,with statistically significant differences.There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of hematologic toxicity,hepatic and renal toxicity,or radiation pneumonitis(P＞0.05).The incidence of gastrointestinal reactions was significantly lower in the retitucel group than in the control group,with statistically significant differences[OR=0.55,95%CI(0.38,0.81),P=0.002].Conclusion:In concurrent chemoradiotherapy for advanced or unresectable esophageal cancer patients,the chemotherapy regimen containing riluzole demonstrated superior efficacy compared to the control group without increasing the incidence of adverse reactions.