Phase 2 trial of preoperative irinotecan plus cisplatin and conformal radiotherapy, followed by surgery for esophageal cancer.

Background: Esophagectomy for locally advanced esophageal cancer (LAEC) is associated with limited survival. Trimodality therapy yields a small survival advantage, with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil regimens most frequently studied. Newer regimens may impact these poor outcomes.

PET CT thresholds for radiotherapy target definition in non-small-cell lung cancer: how close are we to the pathologic findings?

Purpose: Optimal target delineation threshold values for positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) radiotherapy planning is controversial. In this present study, different PET CT threshold values were used for target delineation and then compared pathologically.

Methods And Materials: A total of 31 non-small-cell lung cancer patients underwent PET CT before surgery.

Health-related quality of life in esophageal cancer: effect of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgical intervention.

Objective: We sought to determine the effect of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgical intervention on health-related quality of life in patients with esophageal cancer.

Methods: Health-related quality of life was evaluated in a prospective phase II study of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by esophagectomy in 52 patients with carcinoma of the esophagus. Esophagectomy was performed 6 weeks after completion of induction.