title: Combined modality therapy in esophageal cancer: the Memorial experience.
abstract: Over the past 20 years in the United States, esophageal cancer has shown the most rapid rate of increase of any solid tumor malignancy. Esophageal cancer is an aggressive disease, and poor survival is achieved with surgery or chemoradiation therapy alone. Ongoing trials are investigating the use of preoperative chemoradiation followed by surgical resection. Chemoradiation employing a combination of cisplatin and a continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is the most commonly used therapy. The significant gastrointestinal toxicity of traditional cisplatin/5-FU-based regimens has prompted the evaluation of new agents in combined-modality therapy. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has conducted chemoradiation trials with weekly paclitaxel/cisplatin and irinotecan/cisplatin, and the results suggest that this regimen has the potential to improve the therapeutic index without compromising efficacy. Randomized trials are now being conducted to evaluate the tolerance and efficacy of paclitaxel/cisplatin in comparison with paclitaxel/5-FU combined with radiotherapy in locally advanced esophageal cancer. The incorporation of these non-5-FU-based therapies with novel biologic agents is planned.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Gastrointestinal Oncology Service-Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Cornell University Weill Medical College, New York, New York 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Sibyl E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Bruce D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Minsky
authors.forename: Manjit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bains
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Kelsen
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Ilson
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000077146:Irinotecan; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin