Current oncology reports
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Current oncology reports · May 2007
ReviewRecent advances in therapy for gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
Sarcomas comprise less than 1% of all cancers. Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common form of sarcoma and can vary in size and clinical outcome from an incidental finding at operation to life-threatening metastatic disease. ⋯ Sunitinib was approved in the United States in early 2006 for GIST that is refractory to imatinib. The pathology of GIST, surgical options for primary and metastatic disease, and findings leading to the use of imatinib and sunitinib for GIST are highlighted in this review.
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Current oncology reports · May 2007
ReviewCombined-modality therapy for esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancers.
The optimal management of locoregional esophageal cancer is controversial. Preoperative concomitant chemoradiotherapy (two courses of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil plus 50 Gy of radiation) may provide benefit in survival and local control compared with surgery alone and is a reasonable alternative to surgery alone in stages IIB, III, and possibly stage IVa disease. ⋯ Preoperative chemotherapy without radiation also provides a survival benefit compared with surgery alone, but data are insufficient to conclude it is superior to preoperative chemoradiotherapy. Control of distant disease remains a problem with preoperative chemotherapy and preoperative chemoradiotherapy.