Combination Chemotherapy and Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Metastatic Esophageal Cancer or … (NCT00381706) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedPhase 2
Combination Chemotherapy and Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Metastatic Esophageal Cancer or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer
United States245 participantsStarted 2006-09-15
Plain-language summary
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Giving more than one chemotherapy drug (combination chemotherapy) together with cetuximab may kill more tumor cells.
PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying three different combination chemotherapy regimens to compare how well they work when given together with cetuximab in treating patients with metastatic esophageal cancer or gastroesophageal junction cancer.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
1. Metastatic disease of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction
1. Histologic, cytologic or radiologic documentation of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction. Radiologic, endoscopic, histologic or cytologic evidence of locally recurrent or locally residual (post-resection) disease is also permitted.
2. For the purposes of this study, undifferentiated adenocarcinomas and adenosquamous tumors will be considered as adenocarcinomas. In addition, tumors involving the gastroesophageal junction will be defined by the Siewert classification.
3. Patients with gastroesophageal junction tumors who are eligible:
* AEG Type I: Adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus which usually arises from an area with specialized intestinal metaplasia of the esophagus (eg, Barrett's esophagus, and may infiltrate the esophagogastric junction from above).
* AEG Type II: True carcinoma of the cardia arising from the cardiac epithelium or short segments with intestinal metaplasia at the esophagogastric junction.
4. Patients with gastroesophageal junction tumors who are NOT eligible:
* AEG Type III: Subcardial gastric carcinoma which infiltrates the esophagogastric junction and distal esophagus from below.
2. Patients must have at least one paraffin block available (or at least 15 unstained slides for analysis of tumor EGFR status.
1. Patients with a history of esophageal and GE junction carcinoma treated by…
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Response Rate (Complete and Partial) in Patients With Measurable Esophageal or GE Junction Adenocarcinoma