combination chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery for esophageal cancer

Conditions: Adenocarcinoma of Esophagus; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Esophagus

Summary: the purpose of this study is to find out what effects (good and bad) the combination of three chemotherapy drugs (cetuximab, cisplatin, and irinotecan) have on esophageal cancer when given with radiation therapy.

* patients participating in this study must have a tumor biopsy taken to confirm the type of tumor. * outpatient therapy with cetuximab alone will be given intravenously on week 0. * during week 1-8 outpatient radiation therapy will be started and continued once per day for 28 treatments or 5 1/2 weeks. * outpatient chemotherapy (cisplatin, irinotecan and cetuximab) is given once per week on weeks 1, 2, 4, and 5. cetuximab alone will be given on weeks 3, 6, 7, and 8. * a repeat ct scan and pet scan will be performed to restage the tumor on week 8. this is to confirm that the cancer has remained localized. * inpatient surgery is scheduled 4 to 8 weeks after completion of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. * cetuximab will be restarted within 4 weeks after surgery and continue weekly for 6 months. * during chemotherapy and radiation therapy, physical exams and vital signs will be performed before each chemotherapy treatment. routine blood tests will also be performed. * between chemotherapy-radiation therapy and surgery a cat scan of chest, abdomen and pelvis along with a pet scan will be performed. * after surgery a cat scan of chest, abdomen and pelvis will be performed every 3 months for 2 years then every 6 months for 3 years. an egd (upper endoscopy) with biopsy will be done every 6 months for 2 years and then yearly for 3 years. physical exam, vital signs and routine blood tests will be done every 2 weeks for 6 months, then every 3 months for 1.5 years, and then every 6 months for 3 years.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * 18 years of age or older * negative pregnancy test * adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, including the gastroesophageal junction, histologically confirmed, stage iia, iib and iii. * ecog performance status of 0 or 1. * neutrophils greater or equal to 1,500/ul * platelets greater or equal to 100,000/ul * serum bilirubin less or equal to 1.5mg/ul * serum creatinine less or equal to 1.5mg/ul * ast or sgot less or equal to 2.5x upper normal limit * alkaline phosphatase less or equal to 5x upper normal limit exclusion criteria: * prior surgery for esophageal or gastro-esophageal junction cancer. * prior chemotherapy or radiation therapy * biopsy proven tumor invasion of the tracheobronchial tree or tracheo-esophageal fistula. * metastatic disease to distant organs or non-regional lymph nodes. * co-morbid disease that in the opinion of the investigator makes combined chemo-radiotherapy inadvisable. * pregnant or lactating women * other active malignancy * patients with known gilbert's disease or interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. * history of seizure disorder * uncontrolled diarrhea * peripheral neuropathy (grade 2) * prior cetuximab or other therapy that specifically and directly targets the egf pathway.

Keywords: adenocarcinoma of esophagus squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus combination chemotherapy cisplatin irinotecan radiation therapy resectable esophageal cancer