Cologne Esophageal Response Prediction Study (CERP-Study)

Prospective Study to Analyze the Predictive Role of Factors Implicated in the Signaling Pathway of ERCC1 in Response to Treatment With Neoadjuvant Radiochemotherapy in Patients With Esophageal Cancer

RATIONALE: The prognosis of patients with advanced esophageal cancer may be improved by preoperative chemoradiation. But only those patients have a benefit from this additional therapy, whose tumor shows a response after chemoradiation. Molecular markers may help to identify before starting the therapy those patients who response.

PURPOSE: This is the first prospective, clinical trial to study the impact of ERCC1 to predict histopathological response to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (RTx/CTx) in patients with cancer of the esophagus.

Inclusion Criteria:

• informed consent
• newly diagnosed adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus or cardia

Exclusion Criteria:

• missing informed consent
• prior radiation or chemotherapy
• second malignancy