Chemoradiation and Tetrathiomolybdate (TM) in Patients With Esophageal Carcinoma
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2013-05-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Surgery has been the standard of care for esophageal cancer for many years, with limited
success. At present, several studies are underway nationwide which utilize chemotherapy
combined with radiation therapy prior to the usual surgical regimen. Although this treatment
offers some possibility for improvement of patients with esophageal cancer, there remains a
significant need for development of new drugs that can substantially impact survival
Investigators at the University of Michigan have been evaluating inhibitors of tumor blood
vessel growth (angiogenesis). Specifically, they are evaluating the role of copper in
angiogenesis. Copper has been shown to be both a requirement and a potent stimulus for
angiogenesis.
Previous studies have shown Tetrathiomolybdate (TM) to rapidly lower copper levels in the
blood. The physicians at the University of Michigan are studying whether the addition of TM
to the chemoradiation and surgery may increase survival for patients with esophageal cancer.
Phase:
Phase 2
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University of Michigan Cancer Center University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center