Esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer is cancer arising from the esophagus—the food pipe that runs between the throat and the stomach. Symptoms often include difficulty in swallowing and weight loss. Other symptoms may include pain when swallowing, a hoarse voice, enlarged lymph nodes ("glands") around the collarbone, a dry cough, and possibly coughing up or vomiting blood. The two main sub-types of the disease are esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (often abbreviated to ESCC), which is more common in the developing world, and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), which is more common in the developed world. A number of less common types also occur. Squamous-cell carcinoma arises from the epithelial cells that line the esophagus. Adenocarcinoma arises from glandular cells present in the lower third of the esophagus, often where they have already transformed to intestinal cell type (a condition known as Barrett's esophagus).

Photodynamic therapy of early squamous cell cancers of the esophagus

Hubert van den Bergh, Georges Wagnières

The conventional treatment for the cure of esophageal cancer is surgical resection. Esophageal cancer, when detected at an early stage, has a very good probability of being eradicated by less aggressive procedures, and photodynamic therapy has proven to be a safe and effective treatment modality in some carefully selected patients. The indications, outcomes, and future considerations regarding the use of photodynamic therapy for the treatment of superficial squamous cell carcinomas of the esophagus are discussed in this article.

2000

Clinical photodynamic therapy for superficial cancer in the esophagus and the bronchi: 514 nm compared with 630 nm light irradiation after sensitization with Photofrin II

Hubert van den Bergh, Georges Wagnières

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) for cancer in the esophagus and bronchi with red (630 nm) light may occasionally lead to wall perforation and fistula. Therefore, the clin. use of a less penetrating wavelength (514 nm) was investigated for the curative treatment of nine superficial carcinomas in the esophagus and bronchi after photosensitization with Photofrin II. Tumors without infiltration beyond the submucosa in the esophagus and beyond the lamina propria in the bronchi were considered as superficial cancers. The outcome and complications were compared with those of 13 superficial cancers treated with PDT and 630 nm light. In addn., we evaluated histol. the extent of the long-term tissue damage and scarring following treatment of six esophageal cancers with either green or red light. At first endoscopic control, 7-10 days after PDT, tissue necrosis simply matched the illuminated area, without evidence of selective tumor damage. Six of nine tumors treated with 514 nm light had a complete response compared with nine of 13 after 630 nm irradn. No perforation or fistula occurred in either treatment group. However, severe chest pain and fever with or without pleural effusion, consistent with occult perforation, were obsd. in three patients after 630 nm illumination in the esophagus. Histol., fibrous scarring in the three distinct sites treated with green light was limited to the superficial layers of the esophagus. After red light treatment, transmural fibrosis with marked thinning of the esophageal wall was evident in two of the three specimens available for inspection. These results indicate that PDT with 514 nm light has the potential to cure superficial cancer in the esophagus and bronchi with essentially the same probability of success as red light. In the esophagus, green light prevents deep tissue damage, thus reducing the risk of perforation.

1998

Clinical photodynamic therapy for superficial cancer in the esophagus and the bronchi: 514 nm compared with 630 nm light irradiation after sensitization with Photofrin II

Hubert van den Bergh, Georges Wagnières

1998

Tetra(m-hydroxyphenyl)chlorin clinical photodynamic therapy of early bronchial and oesophageal cancers

Photodynamic therapy of early squamous cell cancers of the esophagus

Clinical photodynamic therapy for superficial cancer in the esophagus and the bronchi: 514 nm compared with 630 nm light irradiation after sensitization with Photofrin II

Photodynamic therapy of early squamous cell cancers of the esophagus

Clinical photodynamic therapy for superficial cancer in the esophagus and the bronchi: 514 nm compared with 630 nm light irradiation after sensitization with Photofrin II

Tetra(m-hydroxyphenyl)chlorin clinical photodynamic therapy of early bronchial and oesophageal cancers