Combined Modality Treatment for Esophageal Cancer

Abstract

This paper describes the mechanisms of action of ionizing radiations combined with antineoplastic drugs. Some relevant drugs for the combined modality treatments of locally advanced lung cancer are reported. The meta-analyses including randomized trials comparing single agent (radiotherapy or chemotherapy) versus combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy in patients with unresectable non small cell lung cancer and limited small cell lung cancer are then reviewed. The clinical outcome in relation to different schedules of chemoradiotherapy (sequential, alternating and concurrent) is also focussed.

Therapy-Related Acute Myeloid Leukemia after Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for Esophageal Cancer: Report of Two Cases

“…The tumor was at stage III (T3N1M0). He received neoadjuvant CCRT (cisplatin 75 mg/m 2 , day 1, and 5-fluorouracil 1000 mg/m 2 /day for 4 days, 2 cycles 1 month apart, and radiotherapy 3000 cGy in 15 fractions) followed by surgical resection of the part of the esophagus originally involved by the tumor. No residual tumor was found in the surgical specimen.…”

“…The addition of CCRT to the treatment of esophageal cancer has led to the improvement of overall survival and local disease control 1,2 . Both neoadjuvant 1,3,4 and definitive 1,5 therapies were shown to be effective treatment options.…”