Impact of Cancer Therapy on Myocardial Function in Patients With Esophagus Cancer

Introduction: Patients with cancer in esophagus and gastroesophageal junction (EGEJ) treated with chemoradiotherapy (chemoRT) have increased risk of cardiovascular disease. EGEJ patients often have frailty and pre-existing cardiovascular disease. This may disqualify them for standard trimodal curative treatment and offer surgery alone, chemoRT alone or palliative treatment only. The current understanding of radiation induced heart disease (RIHD) in EGEJ patients is limited. Hence, there is a need for additional studies. Especially on myocardial function during and after chemoRT as congestive heart failure is a serious complication associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Proton-based radiation therapy (RT) is a new alternative to standard photon-based radiation therapy, that is likely to reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications. Hypothesis: Treatment with chemoRT might induce myocardial dysfunction, symptoms of heart failure and decreased physical performance in patients with EGEJ Cancer. The aim: Is to investigate the influence on chemoRT on myocardial function in EGEJ patients and evaluate the cardiac prognosis and eventually identify potential high-risk patients who might benefit from proton-based RT instead of the current photon-based RT. Method: From power calculation the investigators plan to include 56 patients with EGEJ cancer during a period of two years. Inclusions criteria: biopsy verified EGEJ cancer supported by findings from gastroscopy, PET CT scan and with the final diagnosis locally advanced, non-metastatic. The patients will be examined with serial cardiac investigations to evaluate if they develop impairment of the heart function during or after chemoRT. The investigations include; electrocardiogram, cardiac biomarkers, echocardiography and cardio pulmonary exercise test. The examinations will be performed at study entry (baseline) and after six weeks and again after six months.

Sex

All

Minimum age

18 Years

Maximum age

100 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* Biopsy verified EGEJ cancer verified by gastroscopy, biopsy and PET/CT scan.
* The final diagnosis must be locally advanced, non-metastatic as determined at a multidisciplinary team conference.
* Patients referred to curative treatment with preoperative or definitive chemo- and radiotherapy.

Exclusion Criteria:

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