Developing a machine-learning model to enable treatment selection for neoadjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal cancer

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with cisplatin + 5-fluorouracil (CF) followed by radical surgery is the standard treatment for stage II and III esophageal cancers (EC). Although, a more potent regimen comprising CF with docetaxel, has shown superiority in overall survival compared to the CF regimen, it involves worsening of Grade 3 or higher adverse events due to docetaxel. Based on these reports, this study aimed to construct a prognostic system for CF regimens, particularly for locally advanced cancers, to guide selection of NAC.