Pre-op chemoradiotherapy ups survival in esophageal cancer

May 31, 2012 in Cancer

Pre-Op chemoradiotherapy ups survival in esophageal cancer

For patients with esophageal or esophagogastric-junction cancer, treatment with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgical resection is associated with improved survival compared with surgery alone, according to a study published in the May 31 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

(HealthDay) -- For patients with esophageal or esophagogastric-junction cancer, treatment with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgical resection is associated with improved survival compared with surgery alone, according to a study published in the May 31 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Peter van Hagen, M.C.C.M., from the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and colleagues investigated the role of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in the treatment of 366 patients with resectable esophageal or esophagogastric-junction cancer (275 with , 84 with squamous-cell carcinoma, and seven with large-cell undifferentiated carcinoma). Participants, enrolled from March 2004 through December 2008, were randomly allocated to receive surgery alone (188 patients) or to receive carboplatin and paclitaxel for five weeks with concurrent radiotherapy, followed by surgery (178 patients).

The researchers found that 92 percent of patients in the chemoradiotherapy-surgery group achieved complete resection with no tumor within 1 mm of the resection margins, compared with 69 percent in the surgery-alone group. Twenty-nine percent of patients who underwent resection after chemoradiotherapy achieved a pathological complete response. In the two treatment groups, were similar, with 4 percent in-hospital mortality in both groups. The median overall survival was 49.4 and 24.0 months in the chemoradiotherapy-surgery and surgery-alone groups, respectively. In the chemoradiotherapy-surgery group, overall survival was significantly improved (hazard ratio, 0.657; P = 0.003).

"Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (five courses of and , with 41.4 Gy of concurrent radiotherapy) is safe and leads to a significant increase in overall survival among patients with adenocarcinoma or squamous-cell carcinoma of the esophagus or esophagogastric junction," the authors write.

More information: Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Journal reference: New England Journal of Medicine search and more info website

Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

not rated yet  

Rank not rated yet
Relevant PhysicsForums posts

More news stories

American cancer society celebrates 100 years of progress

(HealthDay)—The American Cancer Society, which is celebrating on Wednesday a century of fighting a disease once viewed as a death sentence, is making a pledge to put itself out of business.

Cancer created 9 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

CT detects twice as many lung cancers as X-ray at initial screening exam

National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) investigators also conclude that the 20 percent reduction in lung cancer mortality with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) versus chest X-ray (CXR) screening previously reported in the ...

Cancer created 10 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Research offers promising new approach to treatment of lung cancer

Researchers have developed a new drug delivery system that allows inhalation of chemotherapeutic drugs to help treat lung cancer, and in laboratory and animal tests it appears to reduce the systemic damage ...

Cancer created 13 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Study details genes that control whether tumors adapt or die when faced with p53 activating drugs

When turned on, the gene p53 turns off cancer. However, when existing drugs boost p53, only a few tumors die – the rest resist the challenge. A study published in the journal Cell Reports shows how: tumors that live even i ...

Cancer created 13 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Small increase in cancer risk following CT scans in childhood and adolescence

Study leader, Professor John Mathews from the University of Melbourne said this small increase in cancer risk must be weighed against the undoubted benefits from CT scans in diagnosing and monitoring disease.

Cancer created 17 hours ago | popularity not rated yet | comments 0


Slowing the aging process—only with antibiotics

Swiss scientists reveal the mechanism responsible for aging hidden deep within mitochondria—and dramatically slow it down in worms by administering antibiotics to the young.

Rate of bicycle-related fatalities significantly lower in states with helmet laws

Existing research shows that bicyclists who wear helmets have an 88 percent lower risk of brain injury, but researchers at Boston Children's Hospital found that simply having bicycle helmet laws in place showed a 20 percent ...

Researchers complete largest genetic sequencing study of human disease

Researchers from Queen Mary, University of London have led the largest sequencing study of human disease to date, investigating the genetic basis of six autoimmune diseases.

Brain can be trained in compassion, study shows

Until now, little was scientifically known about the human potential to cultivate compassion—the emotional state of caring for people who are suffering in a way that motivates altruistic behavior.

Having both migraines, depression may mean smaller brain

(HealthDay)—Migraines and depression can each cause a great deal of suffering, but new research indicates the combination of the two may be linked to something else entirely—a smaller brain.

Novel approach for influenza vaccination shows promise in early animal testing

A new approach for immunizing against influenza elicited a more potent immune response and broader protection than the currently licensed seasonal influenza vaccines when tested in mice and ferrets. The vaccine ...