title: Primary combined-modality therapy for esophageal cancer.
abstract: Based on positive results from the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 85-01 trial, the conventional nonsurgical treatment of esophageal carcinoma is combined-modality therapy. Dose intensification of the RTOG 85-01 regimen, examined in the Intergroup (INT)-0123/RTOG 94-05 trial, did not improve local control or survival. Areas of clinical investigation include the development of combined-modality therapy regimens with newer systemic agents, the use of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography to assist in the development of innovative radiation treatment planning techniques, and the identification of prognostic molecular markers. The addition of surgery following primary combined-modality therapy apparently does not improve survival, but this finding is controversial.
authors.affiliation: Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Cancer Center, New York, New York, 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Bruce D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Minsky
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil