Adoptive Cellular Therapy and Radiation Therapy After Surgery in Treating Patients With Esophageal Cancer

Adoptive Cellular Therapy and Radiation Therapy After Surgery in Treating Patients With Esophageal Cancer

Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells show cytolytic activity against tumor. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Combining Radiation therapy with adoptive cellular therapy after surgery may be more effective than uses radiation therapy alone in treating esophageal cancer.

Inclusion Criteria:

• cytologically or histologically confirmed esophageal carcinoma
• Tumor extension beyond muscularis propria and/or nodal involvement without evidence of M1 disease
• Prior en bloc resection, with curative intent, of all known tumor
• No metastatic disease
• Age: > 18
• Karnofsky performance status ≥ 70
• At least 3 weeks since prior surgery
• Normal functions of heart, lung, liver, kidney and bone marrow
• Blood exams qualified for chemotherapy, which included hemoglobulin ≥9 g/dl, neutrophil ≥1.5×109/L and platelet (PLT) ≥100×109/L, creatinine ≤1.5 UNL
• All patients must be evaluated by a radiation oncologist prior to enrollment to ensure patient is appropriate for radiotherapy
• Informed consent signed

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with metastatic disease.
• Patients who are pregnant or nursing.
• Patients with poor bone marrow, liver and kidney functions, which would make radiation therapy intolerable
• Patients with contraindication for irradiation: complete obstruction of esophagus, deep esophageal ulcer, fistula to mediastinum, or haematemesis