ecancermedicalscience

Research

Locally advanced and metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in Morocco: from diagnosis to treatment

1 Apr 2025
Anass Baladi, Hassan Abdelilah Tafenzi, Fatim-Zahra Megzar, Ibrahima Kalil Cisse, Othmane Zouiten, Leila Afani, Ismail Essaadi, Mohammed El Fadli, Rhizlane Belbaraka

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most common subtype of esophageal cancer (EC) worldwide, with significant geographic variability in its incidence and outcomes. This study aims to analyse the characteristics of Moroccan ESCC patients, identify independent prognostic factors for mortality and assess access to surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy (RT) and targeted therapies.

Methods: This retrospective study analysed data from the Marrakesh-Safi regional cancer registry. Between 2014 and 2019, a total of 78 patients were histologically confirmed to have locally advanced or metastatic ESCC. Demographic, clinical and treatment data were evaluated to determine prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) using Kaplan–Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses.

Results: The median age was 56 years (IQR: 48–66), with a slight female predominance in stage III (59%). Dysphagia was the most frequent symptom (92%), and the thoracic esophagus was the most common tumour site (53%). Performance status was significantly worse in stage IV (31% with PS 4, p < 0.001). Chemotherapy was administered to 72% of patients, with cisplatin being the most used drug. RT was more common in stage III (57% versus 33%, p = 0.035), while surgery was rare (2 cases). Multivariate analysis identified performance status as a key prognostic factor (HR = 27.2, p = 0.015), while RT significantly reduced mortality risk (HR = 0.07, p = 0.038). Stage III patients had a median OS of 46 months, with 1- and 3-year OS rates of 84% and 78%, respectively. In contrast, stage IV patients had a median OS of 8.6 months, with 1-year and 3-year OS rates of 34% and 22%, respectively.

Conclusion: Patients with locally advanced or metastatic EC face poor survival outcomes. RT and performance status are key factors that significantly influence prognosis. These findings underscore the urgent need for early detection, enhanced access to multimodal treatments and improved healthcare infrastructure to improve survival outcomes.

Related Articles

Berenice Freile, Andrés Rodriguez, Greta Catani, Marcos Bortz, Luisina Bruno, Juan M O’Connor, Federico Esteso
Amanda Acioli de Almeida Robatto, Erika Andrade Rocha, Renata Colombo Bonadio, Denis Artico Galhera, Carolina Teixeira Muratori, Admir Andre Belo Bueno, Abraão Ferreira Lopes Dornellas, Luciana Bastos Valente Alban, Carolina Ribeiro Victor, Maria Ignez Freitas Melro Braghiroli, Marília Polo Mingueti e Silva, Camila Soares Araujo, Carlos Frederico Sparapan Marques, Caio Sergio Rizkallah Nahas, Karim Yaqub Ibrahim, André Tsin Chih Chen, Paulo Marcelo Gehm Hoff, Camila Motta Venchiarutti Moniz
Yanet Isabel Carrasco Rojas, Albert Gabriel Turpo Peqqueña, Natalia Camila Zenteno Tejada, Victoria Elena Quispe Pastor, Juan Augusto Martínez San Martín, Evelyn Maria Chambilla Huellcacure
Jeanine Justiniano, Ally H Mwanga, Daniel W Kitua, Nashivai E Kivuyo, Seif Wibonela, Cameron E Gaskill