A Phase I Study of Oxaliplatin in Combination With Continuous Infusion 5-Fluorouracil and Radiation in Esophageal Cancer

OBJECTIVES:

• Determine the maximum tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicity of oxaliplatin when given in combination with continuous-infusion fluorouracil and radiotherapy in patients with primary cancer of the thoracic esophagus or gastroesophageal junction.
• Determine the pharmacokinetics of this regimen in this patient population.
• Assess somatic p53 mutations in cancer of the esophagus and determine their relation to therapeutic response induced by this regimen.
• Assess, in a preliminary manner, the efficacy of this regimen in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of oxaliplatin and fluorouracil.

Patients receive oxaliplatin IV over 2 hours on days 1, 15, and 29 and fluorouracil IV continuously on days 8-42. Patients also undergo radiotherapy once daily, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks beginning on day 8.

Patients without evidence of distant disease or unresectable local regional invasion undergo esophageal resection between days 63-70 (within 3-4 weeks after completion of chemoradiotherapy). Patients then receive oxaliplatin as above on days 105, 119, and 133 and fluorouracil as above on days 105-147.