Combination Chemotherapy Plus Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Esophageal Cancer

Gastric Cancer Clinical Trial

Official title: Phase I Trial of Combined Modality Irinotecan, Cisplatin, and Concurrent Radiation Therapy for Patients With Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Combining chemotherapy with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells.

PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of chemotherapy plus radiation therapy in treating patients who have advanced cancer of the esophagus.

Clinical Trial Description

OBJECTIVES:

• Determine the dose limiting toxicity of irinotecan when given weekly with cisplatin and concurrent external beam multifield radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced carcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction.

• Determine the maximum tolerated dose and the recommended phase II dose of irinotecan in this regimen in this patient population.

• Evaluate the complete response rate in these patients to one course of induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

OUTLINE: This is a dose escalation study of irinotecan.

Patients receive induction chemotherapy with cisplatin IV over 30 minutes followed by irinotecan IV over 30 minutes on days 1, 8, 15, and 22. Following 2 weeks of rest, patients begin chemoradiation. Patients receive cisplatin and irinotecan as above on days 1, 8, 22, and 29 and radiotherapy once daily 5 days a week for 5-6 weeks.

Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of irinotecan until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 6 patients experience dose limiting toxicities.

Patients are followed every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for 2 years, and then annually thereafter.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 3-24 patients will be accrued for this study. ;

Study Design

Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Esophageal Cancer
• Esophageal Neoplasms
• Gastric Cancer
• Stomach Neoplasms

• NCT number: NCT00005638
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• Start date: October 1999
• Completion date: April 2004