Phase II study of concurrent chemoradiation in combination with erlotinib for locally advanced esophageal carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of concurrent chemoradiation in combination with erlotinib for locally advanced esophageal carcinoma.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients with locally advanced esophageal carcinoma were treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. A daily fraction of 2.0 Gy was prescribed to a total dose of 60 Gy over 6 weeks. Concurrent paclitaxel (135 mg/m(2), d(1)) and cisplatin (20 mg/m(2), d(1-3)) were administered on Day 1 and Day 29 of the radiotherapy. Erlotinib, an oral epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was taken by every patient at the dose of 150 mg daily during the chemoradiotherapy.


RESULTS
The median follow-up of the 24 patients was 18.6 months (range, 7.1-29.6 months). The 2-year overall survival, local-regional control, and relapse-free survival were 70.1% (95% CI, 50.4-90%), 87.5% (95% CI, 73.5-100%), and 57.4% (95% CI, 36.3-78.7%), respectively. During the chemoradiotherapy, the incidences of acute toxicities of Grade 3 or greater, such as leucopenia and thrombocytopenia, were 16.7 % (4/24) and 8.3% (2/24).


CONCLUSIONS
Application of concurrent chemoradiotherapy in combination with erlotinib for locally advanced esophageal carcinoma yielded satisfactory 2-year overall survival and local-regional control. The toxicities were well tolerated.
Li
Gang
G
Department of Radiation Oncology, The first affiliated hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, WenZhou, ZheJiang, People's Republic of China.
Hu
Wei
W
Wang
Jianhua
J
Deng
Xia
X
Zhang
Ping
P
Zhang
Xuebang
X
Xie
Congyin
C
Wu
Shixiu
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000209:etiology
D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin