Radiation Therapy and Paclitaxel, Carboplatin, and Fluorouracil Followed by Esophagectomy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced Cancer of the Esophagus or Gastroesophageal Junction

Summary

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel, carboplatin, and fluorouracil, work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Giving radiation therapy with chemotherapy and giving them before surgery may shrink the tumor so that it can be removed during surgery. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving radiation therapy together with combination chemotherapy followed by esophagectomy works in treating patients with locally advanced cancer of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction.

Timeline

Start

2002-01

Primary completion

2005-07

Completion

2009-01

Publications

• Background Jatoi A. Aggressive multimodality therapy for patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer: is there a role for amifostine? Semin Oncol. 2003 Dec;30(6 Suppl 18):72-5. doi: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2003.11.013.
• Results Jatoi A, Martenson JA, Foster NR, McLeod HL, Lair BS, Nichols F, Tschetter LK, Moore DF Jr, Fitch TR, Alberts SR; North Central Cancer Treatment Group (N0044). Paclitaxel, carboplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and radiation for locally advanced esophageal cancer: phase II results of preliminary pharmacologic and molecular efforts to mitigate toxicity and predict outcomes: North Central Cancer Treatment Group (N0044). Am J Clin Oncol. 2007 Oct;30(5):507-13. doi: 10.1097/COC.0b013e31805c139a.
• Results Jatoi A, Martenson J, Mahoney MR, Lair BS, Brindle JS, Nichols F, Caron N, Rowland K, Tschetter L, Alberts S. Results of a planned interim toxicity analysis with trimodality therapy, including carboplatin AUC = 4, paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, amifostine, and radiation for locally advanced esophageal cancer: preliminary analyses and treatment recommendations from the North Central Cancer Treatment Group. Int Semin Surg Oncol. 2004 Nov 8;1(1):9. doi: 10.1186/1477-7800-1-9.

Drugs

Indications