10.6084/m9.figshare.4815220.v1
Bianca So
Bianca
So
Loredana G. Marcu
Loredana G.
Marcu
Ian Olver
Ian
Olver
Raghu Gowda
Raghu
Gowda
Eva Bezak
Eva
Bezak
Cocktail without hangover: in search for the optimal chemotherapy in the combined management of non-operable esophageal carcinomas
Taylor & Francis Group
2017
surgery
non-operable esophageal carcinomas Background
non-operable esophageal cancer
esophageal cancer
chemotherapy
drug combinations
regimen
non-operable esophageal cancers
treatment outcomes
toxicity
2017-04-04 17:16:10
Journal contribution
https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Cocktail_without_hangover_in_search_for_the_optimal_chemotherapy_in_the_combined_management_of_non-operable_esophageal_carcinomas/4815220
<p><b>Background:</b> The worldwide incidence of esophageal cancer has greatly increased over the past few decades making it the sixth deadliest cancer. The disease is often detected in advanced stages when surgery is no longer an option. The standard treatment in these situations is combined chemoradiotherapy, by employing drug cocktails that lead to optimal treatment outcomes both from the perspective of tumor control and normal tissue toxicity.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> The aim of this work was to collate the existing trials and clinical studies reported on non-operable esophageal cancer and to analyze the results based on treatment outcomes after various drug combinations.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> Of all drug combinations, cisplatin/5-FU is the most well established chemotherapy regimen for esophageal cancer as both neoadjuvant therapy, an alternative option to surgery, and for palliative purposes. Although this regimen is associated with the most toxicity, it also appears to have the best survival benefit and relief of symptoms.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> More research is warranted to further increase the therapeutic ratio in non-operable esophageal cancers.</p>