Cell Kinetics and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Expression: Useful Guides in Esophageal Cancer?

摘要: Radiotherapy and chemotherapy both cause cell death in tumors as well normal tissues. As soon a certain level of damage is reached the tissue, repopulation starts via feedback mechanisms. In fast proliferating tissues like skin intestinal epithelia, this compensatory proliferation within 2–3 weeks. Compensatory not linear but increases exponentially function overall treatment time [1,2]. This can influence effect protracted irradiation to large extent. When shortened from 7 2 weeks, tolerance acutely responding decreases such degree that total dose must be reduced 70 50 Gy. Probably similar effects occur tumors. By mechanism therapeutic extremely jeopardized [3, 4]. It has been described head neck cancer local tumor control did decrease 86% 32% when was 35 days or more [5]. Hence rationale for shortening counteract repopulation. Preliminary results European Organization Research Treatment Cancer (EORTC) trial indeed show higher after accelerated radiotherapy (70Gy/5 weeks) compared conventional (70Gy/7 [6]. remains assessed esophageal tumors, especially squamous which histologically comparable with cancer.