Cisplatin, Capecitabine, and Radiation Therapy With or Without Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Esophageal Cancer

This is an interventional treatment trial for Esophageal Cancer focused on measuring adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, stage IA esophageal cancer, stage IB esophageal cancer, stage IIA esophageal cancer, stage IIB esophageal cancer, stage IIIA esophageal cancer, stage IIIB esophageal cancer, stage IIIC esophageal cancer Read More

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed carcinoma of the esophagus

  • Adenocarcinoma
  • Squamous cell
  • Undifferentiated carcinoma
  • Siewert type I tumor of the gastroesophageal junction
• Localized, nonmetastatic disease (T1-4, N0-1) confirmed by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and spiral CT scan
• Total disease length (primary and lymph nodes) < 10 cm by EUS
• Not suitable for surgery (either for medical reasons or patient's choice)
• No metastatic disease (i.e., M1a or M1b according to UICC TNM version 6)
• No significant (> 2 cm) extension of tumor into the stomach

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• WHO performance status 0-1
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³
• White blood cell count ≥ 2,000/mm³
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL (should be corrected to > 10 g/dL before treatment)
• Serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• ALT/AST ≤ 2.5 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 3 times ULN
• Glomerular filtration rate > 40 mL/min OR > 60 mL/min estimated by Cockcroft-Gault formula
• Adequate cardiac ejection fraction ≥ 40% by MUGA or ECHO
• FEV_1 ≥ 1 L by spirometry
• Not pregnant
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No malignancy within the past 5 years
• No unstable angina, uncontrolled hypertension, cardiac failure, or other clinically significant cardiac disease
• No major trauma within the past 4 weeks
• No known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency
• No hearing impairment or sensory-motor neuropathy > grade 2

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior sorivudine and analogues
• At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery
• At least 4 weeks since prior monoclonal antibody
• At least 3 months since prior radiotherapy
• No prior treatment for invasive esophageal carcinoma or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma (not including photodynamic therapy or laser therapy for high-grade dysplasia/carcinoma in situ)
• No other prior treatment for this malignancy that would compromise the ability to deliver definitive mediastinal chemoradiotherapy or compromise survival