Phase II Trial of Induction Chemotherapy Followed by Chemoradiotherapy With Paclitaxel and Carboplatin Before Minimal Invasive Surgery in Patients With Localized Esophageal and Gastro-esophageal Junction Cancer

Phase II trial of induction chemotherapy with carboplatin AUC 6 plus paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 in a 21 day cycle for two cycles followed by radiotherapy 4500 cGy in 25 fractions plus carboplatin AUC=2 paclitaxel 50 mg/m2 in a week regimen followed by minimally invasive surgery after 6 to 10 weeks. A PET scan will be performed at the time of randomization and 14 days after de first cycle to determine the relation between metabolic response and survival. The primary endpoint is to the evaluate the number of complete pathologic response. The secondary endpoints are evaluation of toxicity, radiologic response, metabolic response, results of the minimally invasive surgery (blood lost, number of conversion to open surgery, type of resection, R0, 1 or 2, post-op complications, time of hospitalization, 30 day post-op mortality), evaluate the viability of treatment protocol (number of patient that complete the phases), evaluate quality of life during the treatment and after the surgery. Inclusion criterias are: Histologically proven adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the middle and lower third of the esophagus (included tumors located in the gastro-esophageal junction Siewert I and II), age between 18 and 75 years, Performance Status 0 or 1, neutrophils count > 1500/mm3, platelets count > 100.000/mm3, hemoglobin count > 9 g/dL, preserve hepatic and renal function, stage (TNM AJCC 7th edition): cT1b-3, N0-1, M0, signature of the informed consent. Exclusion criterias are: history of another cancer, except skin non melanoma, pregnancy or history of hypersensitivity to the study drugs