Radiotherapy,Chemotherapy,Before and After Surgery in Advanced Esophageal or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2010-02-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Drugs used in
chemotherapy, such as cisplatin and fluorouracil, work in different ways to stop the growth
of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving more
than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells. Cisplatin and
fluorouracil may also make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. Gefitinib may
stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving
radiation therapy together with combination therapy and gefitinib before surgery may make the
tumor smaller and reduce the amount of normal tissue that needs to be removed. Giving these
treatments after surgery may kill any tumor cells that remain after surgery.
PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving radiation therapy together with
combination chemotherapy and gefitinib before and after surgery works in treating patients
with advanced esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer.