Pemetrexed, Cisplatin, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Esophageal or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer

Summary

RATIONALE: Pemetrexed may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Cisplatin may make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. Giving pemetrexed together with cisplatin and radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of pemetrexed when given together with cisplatin and radiation therapy in treating patients with stage III or stage IV esophageal cancer or gastroesophageal junction cancer.

Timeline

Start

2008-02

Primary completion

2014-04

Completion

2015-09

Publications

• Elquza E, Babiker HM, Howell KJ, Kovoor AI, Brown TD, Patel H, Malangone SA, Borad MJ, Dragovich T. Phase I Study of Concomitant Pemetrexed and Cisplatin Plus External Beam Radiation Therapy in Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic Esophageal or Gastroesophageal Junction Carcinomas. Cancer Invest. 2016;34(2):57-63. doi: 10.3109/07357907.2015.1108426. Epub 2016 Jan 25.

Drugs

Indications