Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Radiation Therapy Alone or Combined with Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Esophageal Cancer

  • Conference paper
New Perspectives in Molecular and Clinical Management of Gastrointestinal Tumors

Part of the book series: Recent Results in Cancer Research ((RECENTCANCER,volume 142))

  • 52 Accesses

Abstract

Radiation therapy has been used in the adjuvant setting or as a primary treatment modality for esophageal cancer. Although there are design flaws in all of the trials of adjuvant radiation therapy for esophageal cancer, there is no clear survival advantage when radiation therapy is delivered in the adjuvant setting (preoperatively or postoperatively). Phase H results of preoperative, combined modality therapy are encouraging; however, the approach remains investigational. When radiation therapy is used as a primary modality, the most favorable results are seen when it is combined with adequate doses of systemic chemotherapy. Phase III intergroup trials are in progress which are examining the effectiveness of higher doses of radiation therapy when combined with chemotherapy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al-Sarraf M, Pajak T, Herskovic A et al (1993) Progress report of combined chemoradiotherapy (CT-RT) vs. radiotherapy (RT) alone in patients with esophageal cancer. An intergroup study. ( Abstract) Proc ASCO 12: 197

    Google Scholar 

  • Araujo CMM, Souhami L, Gil RA et al (1991) A randomized trial comparing radiation therapy versus concomitant radiation therapy and chemotherapy in carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus. Cancer 67: 2258–2261

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong JG (1993) High dose rate remote afterloading brachytherapy for lung and esophageal cancer. Semin Radiat Oncol 4: 270–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arnott SJ, Duncan W, Kerr GR et al (1993) Low-dose preoperative radiotherapy for carcinoma of the oesophagus: results of a randomized clinical trial. Radiother Oncol 24: 108–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calais G, Jadavil E, Chapet C et al (1994) High dose radiotherapy (RT) and concomitant chemotherapy (CT) for nonresectable esophageal cancer. Results of a phase-II study. Proc ASCO 13: 197

    Google Scholar 

  • Caspers RJL, Zwinderman AH, Griffioen G et al (1993) Combined external-beam and low dose rate intraluminal radiotherapy in oesophageal cancer. Radiother Oncol 27: 7–12

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coia LR, Engstrom PF, Paul AR et al (1991) Long-term results of infusional 5-FU, mitomycin-C, and radiation as primary management of esophageal cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 20: 29–36

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De-Ren S (1989) Ten-year follow-up of esophageal cancer treated by radical radiation therapy: analysis of 869 patients. Int J Radiation Oncol Biol Phys 16: 329–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fok M, Sham JST, Choy D et al (1993) Postoperative radiotherapy for carcinoma of the esophagus: a prospective, randomized controlled trial. Surg 113: 138–147

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Forastiere A, Orringer MB, Perez-Tamayo C et al (1990) Concurrent chemotherapy and radiation therapy followed by transhiatal esophagectomy for local-regional cancer of the esophagus. J Clin Oncol 8: 119–127

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Forastiere A (1992) Treatment of local-regional esophageal cancer. Semin Oncol 19: 57–63

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gignoux M, Roussel A, Paillot B et al (1987) The value of preoperative radiotherapy in esophageal cancer: results of a study of the EORTC. World J Surg 11: 426–432

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gill PG, Denham JW, Jamieson GG et al (1992) Patterns of treatment failure and prognostic factors associated with the treatment of esophageal carcinoma with chemotherapy and radiotherapy either as sole treatment or followed by surgery. J Clin Oncol 10: 1037–1043

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herskovic A, Martz L, Al-Sarraf M et al (1992) Combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy compared with radiotherapy alone in patients with cancer of the esophagus. N Engl J Med 326: 1593–1598

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang GJ, Gu XZ, Wang LJ et al (1988) Combined preoperative irradiation and surgery for esophageal carcinoma. In: Delarue NC (ed) International trends in general theracic surgery. Mosby, St. Louis, pp 315–318

    Google Scholar 

  • lizuka T, Ide H, Kakegawa T et al (1988) Preoperative radioactive therapy for esophageal carcinoma: randomized evaluation trial in eight institutions. Chest 93:1054–1058

    Google Scholar 

  • Izquierdo MA, Marcuello E, Gomez de Segura G et al (1993) Unresectable nonmetastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus managed by sequential chemotherapy (cisplatin and bleomycin) and radiation therapy. Cancer 71: 287–292

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • John MJ, Flam M, Ager Mowry PA et al (1989) Radiotherapy alone and chemoradiation for nonmetastatic esophageal carcinoma. Cancer 63: 2397–2403

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasai M, Mori S, Watanabe T (1978) Follow-up results after resection of thoracic esophageal carcinoma. World J Surg 2: 543–551

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kavanagh B, Anscher M, Leopold K et al (1992) Patterns of failure following combined modality therapy for esophageal cancer, 1984–1990. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 24: 633–642

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelsen DP, Minsky BD, Smith M et al (1990) Preoperative therapy for esophageal cancer: a randomized comparison of chemotherapy vs. radiation therapy. J Clin Oncol 8: 1352–1361

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Launois B, Delarue D, Campion JP et al (1981) Preoperative radiotherapy for carcinoma of the esophagus. Surg Gynecol Obstet 153: 690–692

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Le Prise E, Etienne PL, Meunier B et al (1994) A randomized study of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery versus surgery for localized squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Cancer 73: 1779–1784

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leichman L, Steiger Z, Seydel HG et al (1984) Preoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy for patients with cancer of the esophagus: a potentially curative approach. J Clin Oncol 2: 75–79

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mei W, Xian-Zhi G, Weibo Y et al (1989) Randomized clinical trial on the combination of preoperative irradiation and surgery in the treatment of esophageal carcinoma: report on 206 patients. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 16: 325–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Minsky BD, Neuberg D, Kelsen D, Pisansky TM, Ginsberg R, Benson AI (1996) Neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus concurrent chemotherapy and high dose radiation for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus — a preliminary analysis of the Phase II intergroup trial 0122. J Clin Oncol 14: 149–155

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Naunheim KS, Petruska PJ, Roy TS et al (1992) Preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 5: 887–895

    Google Scholar 

  • Newaishy GA, Read GA, Duncan W et al (1982) Results of radical radiotherapy of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Clin Radiol 33: 347–352

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nygaard K, Hagen S, Hansen HS et al (1992) Pre-operative radiotherapy prolongs survival in operable esophageal carcinoma: a randomized, multicenter study of preoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The second Scandinavian trial in esophageal cancer. World J Surg 16: 1104–1110

    Google Scholar 

  • Okawa T, Kita M, Tanaka M et al (1989) Results of radiotherapy for inoperable locally advanced esophageal cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 17: 49–54

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Poplin E, Fleming T, Leichman L et al (1987) Combined therapies for squamous-cell carcinoma of the esophagus, a Southwest Oncology Group Study (SWOG-8037). J Clin Oncol 5: 622–628

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roussel A, Jacob JH, Jung GM et al (1988) Controlled clinical trial for the treatment of patients with inoperable esophageal carcinoma: a study of the EORTC Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer Cooperative Group. Recent Results Cancer Res 2: 21–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Seitz JF, Giovannini M, Padaut-Cesana J et al (1990) Inoperable nonmetastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus managed by concomitant chemotherapy (5fluorouracil and cisplatin) and radiation therapy. Cancer 66: 214–219

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sischy B, Ryan L, Haller D et al (1990) Interim report of EST 1282 phase-III protocol for the evaluation of combined modalities in the treatment of patients with carcinoma of the esophagus. (Abstract) Proc ASCO 9: 105

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart JR, Hoff SJ, Johnson DH et al (1993) Improved survival with neoadjuvant therapy and resection for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Ann Surg 218: 571–578

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sugimachi K, Matsufuji H, Kai H et al (1986) Preoperative irradiation for carcinoma of the esophagus. Surg Gynecol Obstet 162: 174–176

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Teniere P, Hay J, Fingerhut A et al (1991) Postoperative radiation therapy does not increase survival after curative resection for squamous cell carcinoma of the middle and lower esophagus as shown by a multicenter controlled trial. Surg Gynecol Obstet 173: 123–130

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Urba SG, Orringer MB, Perez-Tamayo C et al (1992) Concurrent preoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy in localized esophageal adenocarcinoma. Cancer 69: 285–291

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Valerdi JJ, Tejedor M, Illarramendi II et al (1994) Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy in locally advanced esophagues carcinoma: long-term results. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 27: 843–847

    Google Scholar 

  • Yadava OP, Hodge AJ, Matz LR et al (1991) Esophageal malignancies: is preoperative radiotherapy the way to go? Ann Thorac Surg 51: 189–193

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    B D Minsky

Authors
  1. B D Minsky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fachbereich Humanmedizin, Univ.-Klinikum Benjamin Franklin, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Schwerpunkt Hämatologie und Onkologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200, Berlin, Germany

    Ernst-D. Kreuser

  2. Robert-Rössle Klinik am Max-Delbrück-Centrum, Humboldt-Universität, Lindenberger Weg 80, 13122, Berlin, Germany

    P. M. Schlag

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1996 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Minsky, B.D. (1996). Radiation Therapy Alone or Combined with Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Esophageal Cancer. In: Kreuser, ED., Schlag, P.M. (eds) New Perspectives in Molecular and Clinical Management of Gastrointestinal Tumors. Recent Results in Cancer Research, vol 142. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-80035-1_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-80035-1_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-80037-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-80035-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation