Gefitinib in Treating Patients With Esophageal Cancer That is Progressing After Chemotherapy
Adenocarcinoma of the Gastroesophageal Junction, Esophageal Cancer
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Adenocarcinoma of the Gastroesophageal Junction focused on measuring adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction, adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, recurrent esophageal cancer, 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, stage IV esophageal cancer
Eligibility Criteria
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
Histologically confirmed esophageal cancer or gastroesophageal junction tumor including the following subtypes:
- Adenocarcinoma
- Squamous cell cancer
- Poorly differentiated epithelial malignancy
- Gastroesophageal junction with Siewert type I or II tumors
- Failure after no more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens and 1 chemoradiation course
- Measurable or evaluable disease by CT scan
- Patients with brain metastases must be stable and have received cranial irradiation prior to entry
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
- WHO performance status 0-2
- Serum bilirubin ≤ 3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN)
- AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN (≤ 5 x in presence of liver metastases)
- Able to take oral tablets (whole or dispersed)
- No evidence of clinically active interstitial lung disease (patients with chronic, stable, radiographic changes who are asymptomatic allowed)
- No known severe hypersensitivity to gefitinib or any of the excipients of this product
- No prior other malignancy likely to confound results or interfere with gefitinib therapy
- No medical condition considered to interfere with the safe participation in the trial
- Not pregnant
- Fertile patients must use effective contraception
PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
- See Disease Characteristics
- No chemotherapy (including oral) within the past 6 weeks
- No radiotherapy to site of measurable or evaluable disease within the past 4 weeks
- No other concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy (excluding contraceptives and replacement steroids) or experimental medications
Sites / Locations
- New Cross Hospital
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Placebo Comparator
Gefitinib 500mg once daily
Placebo
Gefitinib 500mg once daily
Gefitinib 500mg once daily