A Randomised Phase II/III Trial of Peri-Operative Chemotherapy With or Without Bevacizumab in Operable Oesophagogastric Adenocarcinoma and A Feasibility Study Evaluating Lapatinib in HER-2 Positive Oesophagogastric Adenocarcinomas and (in Selected Centres) MRI and PET/CT Sub-studies

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as epirubicin, cisplatin, and capecitabine, 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 bevacizumab, and small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as lapatinib, 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. Bevacizumab may also stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking blood flow to the tumor. Lapatinib targets a specific growth receptor, HER-2. Chemotherapy together with bevacizumab or lapatinib, in HER-2 positive tumours, may kill more tumor cells.

PURPOSE: This randomized phase II/III trial is studying the side effects and how well giving combination chemotherapy together with bevacizumab works compared with combination chemotherapy alone in treating patients with previously untreated stomach cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer or lower oesophageal cancer that can be removed by surgery. The feasibility study is studying the safety of adding lapatinib to chemotherapy in patients with HER-2 positive previously untreated stomach cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer or lower oesophageal cancer that can be removed by surgery. The feasibility study will also assess the feasibility of timely HER-2 testing and estimate the HER-2 positivity rate in this patient population.