Barrett's Esophagus
Guidelines Do Not Recommend Endoscopy for GERD
(10/24/2008)
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has released a medical position statement that recommends against using endoscopy for the screening of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). These results were recently published in the journal Gastroenterology.
NSAIDS Reduce Risk of Esophageal Cancer
(11/09/2005)
According to a recent early on-line publication from Lancet Oncology, regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDS) may reduce the risk of esophageal cancer among patients with Barrett’s esophagus.
Two Approaches to Reversing Barrett’s Esophagus May Be Successful
(09/14/2005)
According to a brief report of study findings published in the journal Gastroenterology, roughly 70% of Barrett’s esophagus patients treated with multipolar electrocoagulation or argon plasma coagulation will have a complete reversal of the condition for at least two years.
FDA Approves Photofrin® for Barrett’s Esophagus
(08/20/2003)
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the photosensitizing agent Photofrin® to be used in photodynamic therapy for the treatment of pre-cancerous lesions (areas of tissue) in patients with Barrett’s esophagus.
Photofrin® Reduces Progression to Esophageal Cancer in Patients with Barrett’s Esophagus
(06/24/2002)
Photofrin® photodynamic therapy appears to significantly reduce the risk of esophageal cancer in patients diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus and is now in the review process for approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States.
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Screening/Prevention
Reassuring Findings Regarding Oral Bisphosphonates and Esophageal Cancer
(08/23/2010)
Oral bisphosphonates—drugs commonly used to prevent or treat osteoporosis—do not appear to increase the risk of esophageal cancer. These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
High Circulating Vitamin D Levels Don’t Reduce Risk of Less Common Cancers
(07/12/2010)
High levels of vitamin D in the bloodstream do not appear to reduce the risk of seven less common cancers: endometrial, esophageal, stomach, ovarian, pancreatic, kidney, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Scalding Hot Tea May Increase the Risk of Esophageal Cancer
(04/06/2009)
Individuals who drink scalding hot tea may have as much as eight times the risk of developing esophageal cancer compared with individuals who consume their tea warm or lukewarm. The results of this study were published in the British Medical Journal.
Alcohol-induced Flushing Linked with Esophageal Cancer
(03/26/2009)
People who experience facial flushing after consuming alcohol may have an increased risk of developing alcohol-related esophageal cancer. These results were published in PLoS Medicine.
Guidelines Do Not Recommend Endoscopy for GERD
(10/24/2008)
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has released a medical position statement that recommends against using endoscopy for the screening of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). These results were recently published in the journal Gastroenterology.
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Stage IV/Recurrent
Optimal Outcomes with Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)
(05/28/2010)
An expert panel provided consensus recommendations for appropriate prevention, surveillance and treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure) in patients treated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling pathway inhibitors. These recommendations were recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Depression May Persist With Metastatic Cancer
(05/27/2010)
A substantial number of patients with metastatic cancer may suffer from depression which tends to persist and grow more severe toward the end of life, according to the results of a study published early online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Xeloda® and Eloxatin® Evaluated in Esophageal and Gastric Cancers
(01/04/2008)
According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, it may be possible to replace 5-FU (5-fluorouracil) with Xeloda® (capecitabine) and to replace cisplatin (Platinol®) with Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) in the treatment of advanced esophageal and gastric cancers.
Selected Subsets of Patients with Esophageal Cancer Respond to Iressa®
(04/11/2006)
Among patients with advanced esophageal cancer, treatment with Iressa® (gefitinib) produced better results in women, in patients with high expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and in patients with squamous cell cancer. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Advexin® Promising for Inoperable, Refractory Esophageal Cancer
(03/20/2006)
According to a press release by Introgen Therapeutics, Inc., the vaccine Advexin® appears promising as single-agent therapy in patients with inoperable esophageal that has stopped responding to standard therapies.
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Stages I-III
Less Extensive Treatment Doesn’t Worsen Survival with Early Esophageal Cancer
(09/04/2009)
Among patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma that involves only the innermost lining (mucosa) of the esophagus, treatment to remove just the cancer appears to result in similar overall survival as treatment that removes the entire esophagus. These results were published in Gastroenterology.
Elderly Patients with Esophageal Cancer Can Tolerate Chemoradiotherapy
(11/13/2008)
Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is an effective treatment and does not present major toxicity for elderly patients with esophageal cancer, according to the results of a study released in an early online publication of the November issue of the British Journal of Cancer.
PET Imaging May Help Guide Treatment of Esophageal and Gastric Cancers
(09/21/2007)
According to the results of a study published in Lancet Oncology, use of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to evaluate response to neoadjuvant (before surgery) chemotherapy may help guide treatment of patients with cancer of the lower part of the esophagus or the upper part of the stomach (adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction).
Updates in the Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers: A Report from the 9th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer
(08/07/2007)
The 9th Annual World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer was held in Barcelona, Spain, June 28 through July 1, 2007 in association with the European Society of Medical Oncology. Perhaps the most important new data discussed was from the PACCE (Panitumumab Advanced Colorectal Cancer Evaluation) trial, which examined combined EGFR and VEGF blockade in first-line metastatic colorectal cancer.
Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy plus Radiation Improves Survival in Esophageal Cancer
(03/07/2007)
According to an article recently published in Lancet Oncology, chemotherapy plus radiation therapy prior to surgery improves survival compared with surgery alone in patients with local esophageal cancer.
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