Real-world outcomes with second-line therapy in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma using SEER-Medicare data.

Aim: To characterize real-world patterns of second-line treatment and outcomes in older patients with advanced/metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Patients and methods: Patients aged ≥66 years diagnosed with advanced/metastatic ESCC between 2010 and 2015 and followed through 2016 were included in this retrospective analysis using SEER-Medicare data. Results: Of 756 patients with advanced/metastatic ESCC, 104 (14%) received second-line therapy; median duration of treatment was 1.5 months. Median overall survival was 5.7 months for all patients receiving second-line treatment, and 4.5, 5.6 and 8.5 months, respectively, for patients receiving taxane monotherapy, taxane combination therapy and nontaxane therapy. Conclusion: A small proportion of patients with advanced/metastatic ESCC received second-line therapy, which was associated with short duration of treatment and poor overall survival.