Published in:
01-05-2016 | Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers (L Rajdev, Section Editor)
Esophagogastric Adenocarcinoma: Is More Chemotherapy Better?
Authors:
Elisa Fontana, MD, Elizabeth C. Smyth, MD, David Cunningham, MD
Published in:
Current Treatment Options in Oncology
|
Issue 5/2016
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Opinion statement
Two cycles of neoadjuvant cisplatin and fluoropyrimidine (CF) and 6 cycles of perioperative CF with or without epirubicin are an evidence-based approach in operable esophageal and esophagogastric junctional adenocarcinomas. Three-drug regimens with anthracycline or taxane are associated with significantly higher tumor regression rates, with an expected increase in toxicity. In order to achieve an R0 resection and consequently a survival advantage, in selected patients having a risk of a threatened margin or incomplete resection, chemotherapy might be continued beyond 2 cycles if a response has been demonstrated. In metastatic setting, multidrug combination regimens have demonstrated a significant survival benefit when compared to single-agent regimes. A three-drug regimen should be considered for fit patients and/or when a response is required for symptom control. The expected increase in toxicity needs to be carefully considered and discussed with patients. The choice to use a taxane in first-line setting may limit the options of second-line treatment to irinotecan-containing regimens and also precludes the use of anthracyclines in the first line. For this reason, we prefer to reserve taxane-based therapy for the second-line setting.