Esophageal cancers

Question 1

General treatment principles (based on location and stage)

Answer 1

Tumors at EARLY stages and in the LOWER esophagus => SURGERY is preferred.

In the upper 1/3rd of esophagus => treat with chemoradiotherapy

Chemotherapy alone is not useful, but is used in combination with radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy may be neoadjuvant, definitive, or palliative.
Brachytherapy is more effective than EBRTfor preserving surrounding tissue and swallowing function.

Question 2

Surgical treatments

Answer 2

Early stage - endoscopic mucosectomy or submucosal dissection, plus adjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

All other stages - resection and lymphadenectomy, with esophageal replacement with stomach, colon, or small intestine.

Question 3

chemo drugs for esophageal cancers

Answer 3

FOLFOX - 5-FU and Oxaliplatin

CROSS - Taxane and Carboplatin.

ONLY used along with radiotherapy.