Reassuring Findings Regarding Oral Bisphosphonates and Esophageal Cancer 08/22/2010
Oral bisphosphonates—drugs commonly used to prevent or treat osteoporosis—do not appear to increase the risk of esophageal cancer. These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Osteoporosis—a condition characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone structure—affects an estimated 10 million Americans over the age of ...

Chemoradiotherapy plus Surgery Improves Esophageal Cancer Survival 07/18/2010
Among patients with cancer of the esophagus or esophagogastric junction, treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy prior to surgery resulted in better overall survival than surgery alone. The results of this Phase III clinical trial were presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The esophagus ...

High Circulating Vitamin D Levels Don’t Reduce Risk of Less Common Cancers 07/12/2010
High levels of vitamin D in the bloodstream do not appear to reduce the risk of seven less common cancers: endometrial, esophageal, stomach, ovarian, pancreatic, kidney, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In fact, there was a suggestion that people with the highest vitamin D levels may have an increased risk of pancreatic ...

Depression May Persist With Metastatic Cancer 05/26/2010
A substantial number of patients with metastatic cancer may suffer from depression which tends to persist and grow more severe toward the end of life, according to the results of a study published early online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.[1] While cancer and other serious illnesses are risk factors ...

Excess Body Weight Linked with More Than 100,000 New Cancer Diagnoses Each Year in U.S. 11/09/2009
According to estimates from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), excess body weight may be responsible for more than 100,000 new cancer diagnoses each year in the United States. Excess body weight is increasingly recognized as a risk factor not only for cancer development but also for worse outcomes after ...

Less Extensive Treatment Doesn’t Worsen Survival with Early Esophageal Cancer 09/04/2009
Among patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma that involves only the innermost lining (mucosa) of the esophagus, treatment to remove just the cancer appears to result in similar overall survival as treatment that removes the entire esophagus. These results were published in Gastroenterology. The esophagus is a muscular tube that food and liquids ...

Xeloda® and Eloxatin® Evaluated in Esophageal and Gastric Cancers 01/04/2008
According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, it may be possible to replace 5-FU (5-fluorouracil) with Xeloda® (capecitabine) and to replace cisplatin (Platinol®) with Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) in the treatment of advanced esophageal and gastric cancers.For patients with advanced ...

Meat Linked to Various Cancers 12/13/2007
According to an article recently published in the Public Library of Science Medicine journal, increased consumption of beef, pork, lamb, or processed meats such as bacon, sausage, or ham significantly increases the risk of developing several types of cancers.Cancer is diagnosed in more than 10 million people around the ...

Barrett's Esophagus Increases Risk of Esophageal Cancer and Mortality 10/22/2007
According to an article recently published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, individuals with Barrett's esophagus (BE) have an increased incidence of esophageal cancer and death from the disease.  Patients with BE may benefit from screening for the early detection of esophageal cancer.The esophagus is a tube that connects ...

PET Imaging May Help Guide Treatment of Esophageal and Gastric Cancers 09/21/2007
According to the results of a study published in Lancet Oncology, use of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to evaluate response to neoadjuvant (before surgery) chemotherapy may help guide treatment of patients with cancer of the lower part of the esophagus or the upper part of the stomach (adenocarcinoma ...

Updates in the Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers: A Report from the 9th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer 08/07/2007
 Introduction The 9th Annual World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer was held in Barcelona, Spain, June 28 through July 1, 2007 in association with the European Society of Medical Oncology. This meeting continues to grow and is a forum for the review of data recently presented at ...

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy plus Radiation Improves Survival in Esophageal Cancer 03/07/2007
According to an article recently published in Lancet Oncology, chemotherapy plus radiation therapy prior to surgery improves survival compared with surgery alone in patients with local esophageal cancer.The esophagus is a tube that connects the back of the throat to the stomach. Local esophageal cancer refers to cancer that ...

Erbitux® Combinations Evaluated in Rectal and Esophageal Cancer 01/02/2007
Two recent studies presented at the 2006 meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology (ASTRO) suggest that Erbitux® (cetuximab) can be safely added to combination chemotherapy regimens for rectal and esophageal cancer.Cancer of the esophagus (the tube leading to the stomach) is relatively uncommon, but is ...

Higher Hospital Volume Linked with Better Survival After Gastrointestinal Surgery 11/08/2006
According to the results of a study conducted in Taiwan, patients with stomach, liver, colorectal, or esophageal cancers have better survival after surgery if the surgery is performed in a hospital that handles a greater number of these surgeries. These results were published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology.The ...

Variables Including Hospital Volume Influence Survival in Esophageal Cancer 09/12/2006
According to an early online publication in the journal Cancer , patients with esophageal cancer who undergo surgery have a worse survival if treated in hospitals with a lower volume of such procedures. Other factors affecting survival among these patients were also identified. Cancer of the esophagus (the tube leading to ...

Multi-modality Treatment Does Not Decrease Quality of Life in Esophageal Cancer 08/30/2006
According to an article recently published in the British Journal of Surgery, long-term quality of life is not affected following treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy compared to surgery alone for patients with early esophageal cancer. The esophagus is a tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. ...

Additional Chemotherapy Improves Survival in Esophageal Cancer 08/29/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, the addition of chemotherapy to neoadjuvant therapy improves outcomes, including survival, in patients with esophageal cancer. The esophagus is a tube that connects the back of the throat to the stomach. Early esophageal cancer refers to cancer that has not ...

ECF Chemotherapy Prior to and Following Surgery Improves Survival in Early Gastric and Esophageal Cancer 07/10/2006
According to results recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, treatment with the chemotherapy combination referred to as ECF (Ellence®, Platinol®, 5-FU) prior to and following surgery improves progression-free survival and overall survival compared to surgery alone among patients with early stomach or esophageal cancers. Gastric (stomach) cancer ...

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Radiation Improve Survival Compared to Surgery Alone in Operable Esophageal Cancer 06/15/2006
According to results presented at the 42nd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy prior to surgery significantly improves survival compared to surgery alone in patients with operable esophageal cancer. The esophagus is a tube that connects the back of the ...

Obesity Linked with Esophageal and Gastric Cardia Adenocarcinoma 06/05/2006
A combined analysis of previously published studies suggests a link between high body mass index and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and, possibly, of the gastric cardia. These results were published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention. The esophagus is a tube that connects the back of the throat ...

Epoetin May Improve Survival in Patients with Esophageal Cancer 05/11/2006
According to an article recently published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology, and Physics, the use of epoetin alfa to prevent or reduce anemia is associated with improved survival for patients with stage III esophageal cancer who are treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The esophagus is a ...

Esophagitis Increases Risk of Esophageal Cancer 05/11/2006
According to an early online publication in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, individuals with esophagitis have a significantly increased risk of developing esophageal cancer. The esophagus is a muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Esophagitis refers to inflammation, irritation, or swelling of the esophagus. Esophagitis ...

Selected Subsets of Patients with Esophageal Cancer Respond to Iressa® 04/11/2006
Among patients with advanced esophageal cancer, treatment with Iressa® (gefitinib) produced better results in women, in patients with high expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and in patients with squamous cell cancer. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The esophagus is a multi-layered, hollow ...

Advexin® Promising for Inoperable, Refractory Esophageal Cancer 03/20/2006
According to a press release by Introgen Therapeutics, Inc., the vaccine Advexin® appears promising as single-agent therapy in patients with inoperable esophageal that has stopped responding to standard therapies. The esophagus is a multi-layered, hollow tube that connects the throat and stomach, allowing transportation of food and fluids. The prognosis for ...

Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy May Replace Surgery in Early Esophageal Cancer 03/03/2006
According to an article recently published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, treatment with a combination of chemotherapy plus radiation therapy may provide similar outcomes when compared to surgery in very early stages of esophageal cancer. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings. The combination ...

Chemotherapy/Radiation Prior to Surgery Improves Survival over Surgery Alone in Esophageal Cancer 02/23/2006
According to results recently presented at the 2006 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy followed by surgery improves survival compared to surgery alone in the treatment of stages I-III esophageal cancer. The esophagus is a tube that connects the back of the throat to the stomach. Early ...

Carbonated Soft Drink Not Associated with Increased Risk of Esophageal Cancer 02/16/2006
According to an article recently published in the journal Cancer, consumption of carbonated soft drinks is not associated with an increased risk of developing esophageal cancer. The esophagus is a tube that connects the back of the throat to the stomach. Locally advanced esophageal cancer refers to cancer that has ...

TNFerade™ Promising in Esophageal Cancer 01/31/2006
According to results recently presented at the 2006 American Society of Clinical Oncology's Gastroenterological Cancer Symposium, TNFerade™ injections provided impressive survival results when used in combination with chemotherapy and radiation therapy in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. TNFerade is still in clinical trials. The esophagus is a tube that ...

Thoracic Surgeons and High-Volume Hospitals Improve Survival for Esophageal Cancer 12/06/2005
According to an article published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery, patients with esophageal cancer who are to undergo surgery have improved survival if they are treated by thoracic surgeons or at hospitals that perform larger volumes of surgery for esophageal cancer. Several prior publications have indicated that outcomes of ...

Improved Survival After Surgery for Esophageal Cancer 11/28/2005
Survival after surgery for esophageal cancer improved significantly between 1987 and 2000, according to the results of a study published in the journal Lancet Oncology . Cancer of the esophagus (the tube leading to the stomach) is relatively uncommon, but is one of the most aggressive and deadly of all ...

Gemzar®/Cisplatin Appears Promising in Advanced Esophageal Cancer 11/11/2005
According to a recent article published in the British  Journal of Cancer, the treatment combination consisting of chemotherapy agents Gemzar® (gemcitabine) and cisplatin (Platinol®) has significant anticancer activity in patients with advanced, inoperable esophageal cancer. The esophagus is a multi-layered, hollow tube that connects the throat and stomach, allowing transportation ...

NSAIDS Reduce Risk of Esophageal Cancer 11/09/2005
According to a recent early on-line publication from Lancet Oncology, regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDS) may reduce the risk of esophageal cancer among patients with Barrett's esophagus. The esophagus is a tube that connects the back of the mouth to the stomach. In Barrett's esophagus, the lining of ...

Two Approaches to Reversing Barrett's Esophagus May Be Successful 09/14/2005
According to a brief report of study findings published in the journal Gastroenterology, roughly 70% of Barrett's esophagus patients treated with multipolar electrocoagulation or argon plasma coagulation will have a complete reversal of the condition for at least two years. Barrett's esophagus is a condition referring to pre-cancerous cells lining ...

PET Scans Promising for Assessing Treatment Response in Esophageal Cancer 08/31/2005
According to a study published in the journal Radiology, positron emission tomography (PET) is more accurate than computed tomography (CT) and more often feasible than ultrasound when used to assess treatment response in esophageal cancer patients. Assessing treatment response is important after neoadjuvant treatment of esophageal cancer patients. Neoadjuvant treatment ...

Treatment for Localized Esophageal Cancer: Surgery Alone Is as Effective as Surgery with Chemotherapy and Radiation 08/22/2005
According to the results of a phase III clinical trial published in the journal Lancet Oncology, treating localized esophageal cancer with chemotherapy and radiation therapy before surgery does not improve survival compared to treatment with surgery alone. An exception to this may include patients diagnosed with a type of ...

Patients with Cirrhosis at Increased Risk for Several Cancers 08/17/2005
According to results recently published in the Annals of Oncology, individuals with cirrhosis of the liver have a significantly increased risk of developing cancers originating in the liver, oral cavity, pharynx, and esophagus. Patients with cirrhosis should discuss screening procedures for these types of cancers with their physician. Cirrhosis of ...

Patient and Treatment Characteristics Influence Survival After Esophageal Cancer 08/05/2005
An article recently published in the journal Acta Oncologica reports that survival among patients with esophageal cancer is improved with treatment consisting of chemotherapy and radiation therapy followed by surgery; survival rates with this treatment appear superior to radiation therapy alone or radiation therapy and chemotherapy without surgery. In ...

Survival Among Patients with Esophageal Cancer Is Improved with Combined Therapy Followed by Surgery 07/11/2005
An article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology reveals that a positive response to combined treatment with chemotherapy and radiation followed by surgery is associated with improved survival in patients with esophageal cancer. The esophagus is a hollow tube that connects the throat and stomach, allowing transportation of ...

Genetic Variations Can Help Predict Response to Therapy and Survival in Esophageal Cancer 04/27/2005
According to results presented at the 2005 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), specific genetic variations can help predict responses and survival associated with specific types of therapies in the treatment of esophageal cancer. The esophagus is a tube that connects the back of the mouth ...

PET Scans Improve Staging Accuracy in Esophageal Cancer 02/25/2005
According to results recently published in the journal Cancer, fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scans appear to improve accuracy of staging in esophageal cancer over computed tomography (CT) scans alone, particularly in the detection of cancer spread to lymph nodes and distant sites in the body. The esophagus is a ...

Brachytherapy Superior to Stents for Dysphagia in Patients with Esophageal Cancer 11/24/2004
According to a recent article published in The Lancet, brachytherapy provides superior long-term relief over placement of a stent in terms of difficulty in swallowing for patients with advanced esophageal cancer. The esophagus is a hollow tube that connects the back of the mouth to the stomach. All food and ...

PET Scanning Valuable for Staging of Esophageal Cancer 09/23/2004
According to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, it appears that positron emission tomography (PET) scans may be valuable to determine the stage of patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer, particularly those with cancer that has spread from its site of origin to distant sites in ...

Surgeon Volume Directly Related to Surgical Outcomes 12/01/2003
According to a recent article published in The New England Journal of Medicine, operative mortality, or death related to a surgical procedure, is significantly reduced if surgeons have performed a large volume of the surgical procedure. 1 Several prior publications have indicated that outcomes of patients undergoing surgery may be ...

Main Causes for Gastric and Esophageal Cancers Preventable 09/26/2003
According to an article published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the main causes of both gastric and esophageal cancers are preventable. The esophagus and stomach are both parts of the digestive system. The esophagus is a muscular tube that conveys food from the mouth to ...

FDA Approves Photofrin® for Barrett’s Esophagus 08/11/2003
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the photosensitizing agent Photofrin® to be used in photodynamic therapy for the treatment of pre-cancerous lesions (areas of tissue) in patients with Barrett’s esophagus. Barrett’s esophagus is a condition referring to pre-cancerous cells lining the lower esophagus (tube ...

Aspirin and NSAIDS may Confer Protective Effect Against Esophageal Cancer 01/24/2003
According to recent results presented in the medical journal Gastroenterology, the use of aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) may provide a protective effect against the development of esophageal cancer. Esophageal cancer is relatively uncommon, but is one of the most aggressive and deadly of all cancers. The esophagus ...

Photofrin® Reduces Progression to Esophageal Cancer in Patients with Barrett’s Esophagus 06/24/2002
Photofrin® photodynamic therapy appears to significantly reduce the risk of esophageal cancer in patients diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus and is now in the review process for approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States. Barrett’s esophagus is a condition referring to pre-cancerous cells lining the ...

Pre-Operative Chemotherapy Appears to Improve Survival in Esophageal Cancer 06/03/2002
According to a recent article published in the Lancet, pre-operative chemotherapy appears to improve survival compared to surgery alone for patients with operable esophageal cancer. The esophagus is a muscular tube that conveys food from the back of the throat to the stomach. Operable esophageal cancer refers to cancer ...

Mortality from Some Cancer Surgeries Reduced in Large-Volume Hospitals 04/15/2002
According to a recent article published in The New England Journal of Medicine, death related to surgical procedures (surgical mortality) for some cancers may be significantly reduced if patients receive treatment in hospitals that perform large volumes of the surgical procedure annually. The surgical removal of cancer is ...

Mitomycin, Cisplatin and Fluorouracil: A New Standard Treatment for Patients with Advanced Cancer of the Esophagus 02/13/2002
Surgically unresectable cancer of the esophagus or stomach is commonly treated with cisplatin based combinations chemotherapy. Treatment is administered primarily to control symptoms such as difficulty in swallowing and prolonged survival. Since chemotherapy is currently administered primarily for palliation, avoidance of treatment programs with significant side effects is ...

Age Should not Limit Consideration of Aggressive Surgical Procedures in Elderly Persons with Cancer of the Esophagus 02/11/2002
Treatment for cancer of the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach, usually includes surgery or radiation therapy, sometimes with chemotherapy. Surgery often involves an esophagectomy, or removal of part or all of the esophagus, to help relieve the symptoms of disease, prevent the cancer ...

Epirubicin Plus Cisplatin Plus Prolonged Fluorouracil Is Active against Advanced Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus 02/11/2002
For persons who have cancer of the esophagus, treatment options often include surgery or radiation therapy, sometimes with chemotherapy, depending on the stage (or extent) of disease. Researchers in England recently reported that chemotherapy with epirubicin, cisplatin, and prolonged infusion with fluorouracil was a highly active combination against ...

Photodynamic Laser Therapy is Equivalent or Superior to Thermal Ablation Therapy for Palliation of Esophageal Cancer 02/11/2002
Only 10% of patients with cancer of the esophagus are cured with currently available standard treatments. Sooner or later the majority of patients have severe difficulty eating due to residual or recurrent cancer. There are several methods of temporarily improving the ability of patients to pass food through ...

Neoadjuvant Treatment for Esophageal Cancer Remains Promising 02/09/2002
Results from a recent clinical trial suggest neoadjuvant treatment of esophageal cancer is promising but requires further evaluation, as reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The esophagus is a muscular tube that conveys food from the back of the throat to the stomach. Locally advanced esophageal cancer refers ...

Cancer of the Esophagus: Combined Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy, and Surgery May Prolong Survival 02/09/2002
Treatment for cancer of the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach, usually includes surgery, sometimes in combination with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. In cases of advanced disease, the goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms of disease, prolong survival time, and enhance quality of ...

Combination Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Appears Promising as Treatment for Patients with Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Esophageal Cancer 02/09/2002
The standard treatment of patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer that has spread outside the esophagus but remains limited to the area of the primary cancer consists of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Unfortunately, this approach results in 10% or less of patients surviving greater than 5 years from ...

Combined chemotherapy and radiation Improves survival of patients with localized cancer of the esophagus 02/09/2002
Cancer of the esophagus is usually treated with surgery or radiation therapy resulting in 5 year survivals of 5 to 20%. Attempts have been made to improve outcomes by adding chemotherapy to surgery or to radiation therapy. However, the benefits of adding chemotherapy to other treatments is not ...

Localized Cancer of the Esophagus: Adding Chemotherapy to Radiation Therapy May Improve Survival Rates 02/09/2002
Treatment for cancer of the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach, usually includes surgery or radiation therapy. Researchers continue to search for more effective treatment strategies, including the use of chemotherapy with surgery and/or radiation therapy. Recently, researchers in the Radiation Oncology Study Group ...

Surgery for Cancer of the Lower Esophagus: Lymph Node Removal Key to Determining Need for Further Treatment 02/09/2002
The treatment of cancer of the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach, often involves surgery to remove the cancer. Researchers in California recently evaluated the treatment outcomes for persons who underwent surgery for cancer of the lower esophagus. Their conclusions? They found that the ...

Neoadjuvant Treatment with Combination Radiation Chemotherapy for Patients with Localized Cancer of the Esophagus 02/09/2002
Neoadjuvant therapy is a treatment given before the primary treatment with the goal of improving the effectiveness of the primary treatment and is increasingly used as treatment for esophageal cancer. Neoadjuvant therapy most commonly utilizes chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy administered prior to surgery. Neoadjuvant therapy has the potential advantages ...

Cisplatin and Fluorouracil Chemotherapy Does Not Improve Survival Time Compared to Surgery Alone for Persons with Localized Esophageal Cancer 02/09/2002
Treatment for cancer of the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach, usually includes surgery, sometimes in combination with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Researchers continue to study which therapies used with surgery, and in what sequence (before or after surgery), are most effective. Recently, researchers ...

American College of Radiology Develops Management Guidelines for Patients with Esophageal Cancer 02/09/2002
Cancer of the esophagus is difficult to cure with currently available treatments. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery all play a role in the management of esophageal cancer and it is frequently it is difficult to determine the optimal treatment for patients with a given stage of esophageal cancer. ...

Esophagectomy in Elderly Patients Results in Similar Outcomes as for Younger Patients 02/09/2002
Increasing life expectancy is associated with an increasing number of elderly patients with esophageal cancer. Under the best of circumstances esophagectomy is associated with a high operative death rate and high frequency of major complications. Advanced age is thought to be a contraindication for esophagectomy by many physicians. Physicians ...

Outcomes Defined for Inoperable Stage III Squamous Cell Cancer of the Esophagus 02/09/2002
Survival of patients with esophageal cancer is dependent on the extent of spread (stage) at the time of diagnosis. Patients with cancer that has spread locally beyond the esophagus (stage III) are rarely cured with surgery or radiation therapy and treatment is usually for palliation of symptoms. Recently, ...

Use of Metal Devices, Called Stents, May Help Improve Swallowing Ability in Persons with Esophageal Cancer 02/09/2002
Controlling symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing, is an important part of treatment for many persons with cancer of the esophagus. Italian researchers recently reported improvements in swallowing ability with the use of self-expanding metal stents, which are devices that are placed in the esophagus to help keep it ...

Chemotherapy before Surgery May Improve Survival over Surgery Alone for Certain Persons with Cancer of the Esophagus 02/09/2002
The treatment of cancer of the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach, usually includes surgery or radiation therapy, sometimes with chemotherapy. However, surgery is often not as helpful for persons who have locally advanced cancer of the esophagus (stages II and III) because the ...

Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Followed by Surgery Does Not Improve Survival in Patients with Stage I-II Squamous Cell Cancer of the Esophagus 02/09/2002
The current treatment for patients with stage I and II cancer of the esophagus utilizes surgery alone. Patients with stage I cancer of the esophagus have cancer that invades beneath the surface lining but does not invade the muscular part of the esophagus and there is no lymph ...

Squamous Cell Cancer of the Esophagus: Chemotherapy Plus Radiation Therapy before Surgery May Not Improve Survival over Surgery Alone 02/09/2002
For persons who have cancer of the esophagus, treatment options often include surgery or radiation therapy, sometimes with chemotherapy, depending on the stage (or extent) of disease. For persons with stage I or stage II disease, treatment often consists of surgery alone. Because cancer of the esophagus can ...

Older Persons with Cancer of the Esophagus May Benefit from Surgery 02/09/2002
Treatment of cancer of the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach, usually includes surgery or radiation therapy, sometimes with chemotherapy. Surgery often involves an esophagectomy, or removal of part or all of the esophagus, to help relieve the symptoms of disease, prevent the cancer ...

Combined Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy and Surgery is Superior to Surgery Alone for the Treatment of Esophageal Cancer 02/09/2002
Cancer of the esophagus is a difficult cancer to cure because it has usually spread away from the esophagus at the time of diagnosis. In patients with apparently localized disease the majority will be found to have cancer involving the lymph nodes at surgery. The 5 year survival ...

Combo of Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy, without Surgery, Effective against Some Stage I to IV Esophageal Cancers 02/09/2002
For persons who have cancer of the esophagus, treatment options often include surgery or radiation therapy, sometimes with chemotherapy, depending on the stage (or extent) of disease. Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center recently reported that the use of radiation therapy and chemotherapy can be curative for some ...

Gemzar® Plus 5-Fluorouracil Shows Anti-Cancer Responses in Advanced Esophageal Cancer 02/09/2002
The chemotherapy combination consisting of Gemzar® and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is active and tolerable treatment for patients with advanced esophageal cancer, according to recent results presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The esophagus is a muscular tube that transports food from the ...

Camptosar® and Cisplatin Chemotherapy is Active Treatment for Patients with Advanced Esophageal Cancer 02/09/2002
Patients with unresectable or metastatic esophageal cancer experience regression of their cancer following treatment with combination chemotherapy but are rarely cured. Platinum compounds (cisplatin and carboplatin) are known to be active anti-cancer chemotherapy agents for the treatment of esophageal cancer. Treatment regimens containing cisplatin chemotherapy produce partial responses ...

Chemotherapy Plus Radiation Therapy May Benefit Some Persons with Locally Advanced Cancer of the Esophagus 02/09/2002
Treatment for cancer of the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach, usually includes surgery or radiation therapy. Researchers from Japan recently reported improved survival times using chemotherapy plus radiation therapy to treat individuals who have cancer of the esophagus that has spread outside the ...

Taxanes (Paclitaxel and Docetaxel) Are Effective Treatment for Esophageal Cancer 02/09/2002
Patients with locally advanced or metastatic cancer of the esophagus have cancer that cannot currently be cured by existing treatments. There is a continuing search for new treatments which may be of benefit to patients with cancer of the esophagus. Relieving symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, prolonging survival, ...

Mitomycin, Cisplatin and Fluorouracil: A Standard Treatment for Patients with Advanced Cancer of the Esophagus and Stomach 02/09/2002
Cancer of the esophagus or stomach is commonly treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy combinations. Treatment is rarely curative and administered primarily to control symptoms and prolong survival. Since chemotherapy is administered primarily for palliation, it should not cause severe treatment side effects. Two commonly employed chemotherapy regimens for the ...

Taxane Chemotherapy for Treatment of Patients with Recurrent Esophageal Cancer 02/09/2002
Patients with locally advanced or metastatic cancer of the esophagus have cancer that cannot currently be cured. There is a continuing search for new treatments which may be of benefit to patients with cancer of the esophagus by relieving symptoms (especially difficulty swallowing), prolonging survival and hopefully in ...

Paclitaxel and Docetaxel Are Effective Agents against Metastatic Esophageal Cancer 02/09/2002
Treatment for cancer of the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach, usually includes surgery or radiation therapy. For persons with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal cancer, researchers have also been studying the use of various chemotherapy drugs. German researchers now report that the use ...

Paclitaxel, Fluorouracil and Cisplatin Treatment for Cancer of the Esophagus 02/09/2002
Patients with unresectable or metastatic cancer of the esophagus cannot be cured with surgical removal of the cancer. Treatment typically consists of chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy depending on the extent of cancer. The results of chemotherapy treatment are poor and new drugs and treatment regimens are ...

Surgery May Alleviate Symptoms and Improve Quality of Life in Persons with Advanced Cancer of the Esophagus 02/09/2002
For persons who have been diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus, initial treatment often involves surgery or radiation therapy, sometimes with chemotherapy. For those with advanced disease, surgeons may not be able to remove all of the cancer; therefore, radiation therapy (often with chemotherapy) becomes the preferred approach. ...

Prolonged Survival in Patients with Recurrent Squamous Cell Cancer of the Esophagus 02/09/2002
Patients with recurrence after surgery for cancer of the esophagus are given palliative treatment to relieve symptoms. However, very little is known about optimal management and duration of survival after recurrence of cancer. Patients who relapse after surgery alone as primary treatment have more options than patients who ...

Diets Rich in Fruits and Vegetables Reduce the Risk of Stomach and Esophageal Cancers 02/08/2002
According to results of a study recently published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, diets rich in fruits and vegetables appear to decrease the risk of the development of esophageal and stomach cancers. The esophagus is the muscular tube that conveys food from the back of the throat to ...

Antioxidants May Decrease Risk of Developing Cancer of the Esophagus 02/08/2002
Cancer of the esophagus, or esophageal cancer, is relatively uncommon, but it is one of the most deadly of all cancers. The esophagus is a muscular tube that conveys food from the back of the throat to the stomach. There are two main types of esophageal cancer, adenocarcinoma ...

Low Levels of Selenium Associated With Esophageal and Gastric Cancers in China 02/08/2002
In a study in China, researchers found a highly significant association between low levels of selenium in the blood and a high incidence of esophageal and gastric cancers. The study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, led researchers to estimate that over 25% of esophageal ...

Risk Factors Play Large Role in the Development of Esophageal Cancer 02/08/2002
According to a study recently published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the combination of four risk factors (tobacco use, moderate/heavy alcohol consumption, low income and infrequent consumption of raw fruits and vegetables) accounts for almost all of the squamous cell esophageal cancers in the U.S., with a ...

PET Scans Improve Detection of Esophageal Cancer 02/08/2002
Accurate determination of the extent of spread of cancer (stage) in persons with esophageal cancer is imperative to define optimal treatment strategies. Positron emission tomography (PET) has recently emerged as a promising new staging method for some cancers, and according to a new study published in the Journal ...

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scans Improve Evaluation of Patients with Esophageal Cancer 02/08/2002
Accurate staging is an important but difficult problem in determining treatment for patients with esophageal cancer. It is helpful to determine the extent of spread of the cancer prior to surgery because treatment before surgery may be indicated in some patients. The most commonly used method for evaluating ...

Endosonography Improves the Staging of Cancer of the Esophagus 02/08/2002
Accurate determination of the extent of cancer is important for proper counseling regarding benefits and risks of treatment for patients with esophageal cancer. The results of surgery have demonstrated that conventional clinical methods including computerized tomography (CT) scanning for staging of patients with cancer of the esophagus often ...

Surgery to Correct Reflux Disorder May Reverse Some Abnormal Changes Associated with Barrett's Esophagus 02/08/2002
A condition called Barrett’s esophagus is associated with a high risk of developing cancer of the esophagus; therefore, treatments to prevent the progression of Barrett’s esophagus to cancer are needed. Researchers in Seattle have found that some persons with Barrett’s esophagus who receive surgery to prevent the escape ...

Barrett’s Esophagus: Surgery May Reduce the Risk of Progression to Cancer 02/08/2002
A condition called Barrett’s esophagus is associated with a high risk of developing cancer of the esophagus; however, the specifics of which factors cause which persons with Barrett’s esophagus to develop cancer are not known. Researchers in Vermont have found that some persons who receive surgery for their ...

Esophageal Resection Advised for Patients with Barrett's Esophagus with High-Grade Dysplasia 02/08/2002
Barrett’s esophagus is a pre-cancerous metaplastic change in the lining of the lower esophagus. Patients with this condition undergo periodic endoscopy with routine biopsies. The identification of high-grade dysplasia heralds the development of cancer. Unfortunately it is hard to tell the difference between high-grade dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. Many ...

Patients with Barrett's Esophagus with High-Grade Dysplasia on Endoscopic Biopsy Have a High Incidence of Adenocarcinoma 02/08/2002
Barrett’s esophagus is a pre-cancerous metaplastic change in the lining of the lower esophagus. Patients with this condition undergo periodic endoscopy with routine biopsies. The identification of high-grade dysplasia heralds the development of cancer. Unfortunately it is hard to tell the difference between high-grade dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. Many ...

Esophageal is Proposed as Optimal Therapy for Patients with Barrett's Esophagus with High-Grade Dysplasia 02/08/2002
Barrett’s esophagus is a pre-cancerous metaplastic change in the lining of the lower esophagus. Patients with this condition undergo periodic endoscopy with routine biopsies. The identification of high-grade dysplasia heralds the development of cancer. Unfortunately it is hard to tell the difference between high-grade dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. Many ...

Surgery for Esophageal Cancer Should be Performed in Specialized Hospitals 02/08/2002
The number of esophagectomies performed at an institution appears to directly affect mortality (death) rates for patients undergoing this procedure, according to recent study published in the journal Cancer. The esophagus is a muscular tube that transports food from the back of the mouth to the stomach. Cancer of ...

Long-Term Survival Improved with Neoadjuvant Therapy in Esophageal Cancer 02/08/2002
Neoadjuvant (prior to surgery) therapy consisting of chemotherapy and radiation improves long-term survival in patients with early stage esophageal cancer, according to a recent article published in the Archives of Surgery. The esophagus is a muscular tube that conveys food from the back of the throat to the ...