Cancer esophagus: Treatment modalities

Therapeutic options for cancer esophagus have increased. Treatment for each patient should be individualized. Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment for patients with curative intent. In those with more advanced disease where the aim of treatment is obviously palliative, surgical resection is less frequently performed, given the alternatives available. Successful resection however, still offers the most complete and lasting relief of dysphagia, providing it can be carried out safely in experienced centers. In selected patients, a bypass procedure is also an option. Chemoradiation therapy is widely adopted in patients who have good performance status. Good palliation can be obtained in those who respond without the development of a radiation stricture. In selected patients who demonstrate a positive response, surgical resection is sometimes warranted, especially when tumor downstaging makes a curative resection possible. In patients without a chance of cure or in poor health, placement of stents achieves rapid, safe and cost effective palliation

Present trends in the tareatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths all over the world. As most patients present with advanced disease, major efforts have been made in the treatment of such disease with systemic chemotherapy. Several new agents and new combinations of chemotherapy have been developed recently. This article reviews the randomized clinical trials investigating chemotherapy for advanced non'small-cell lung cancer [NSCLC] in relapse or progressive disease while being treated and in elderly patients. Therapies that incorporate new biological agents to target specific defects in lung cancer are also discussed. Several clinical trials have demonstrated improvement in overall survival as well as quality of life with presently available chemotherapy treatment of advanced NSCLC. Better options are available for the elderly as well as those having relapse after first-line chemotherapy. Despite all this progress the 5-year survival rate still remains at a dismal 14%. New therapies with good results are still desired