Trial Information

Whole-Body 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography to Measure the Response to Induction Chemotherapy of Potentially Resectable Lung and Esophageal Carcinomas

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine whether whole body fludeoxyglucose F 18 (F-18
2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose; FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) can quantitate the
response to induction (preoperative) chemotherapy in patients with esophageal or non-small
cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by correlating changes in PET scan images with surgical staging,
frequency of complete resection, disease-free survival, and overall survival. II. Correlate
PET scan results with the multiple conventional complementary imaging modalities of thoracic
and/or abdominal CT, bone scans, and cranial MRI. III. Evaluate the use of PET scanning to
uncover disease sites undetected by current imaging modalities.

OUTLINE: This is a nonrandomized study. The choice of chemotherapeutic regimen is at the
discretion of the medical oncologist. If the tumor is resectable after treatment with
chemotherapy, the patients undergoes the appropriate resection as defined by the thoracic
surgeon. All patients have positron emission tomography (PET) scans done within 2 weeks
before the first dose of chemotherapy and again about 2-3 weeks after the third or fourth
dose of chemotherapy. Patients are asked to not eat or drink 6 hours before coming into the
hospital for the PET scan. They are administered an injection of a solution of
fluorodeoxyglucose F 18 (FDG) and then undergo a PET scan.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: An estimated 75 patients (50 lung cancer and 25 esophageal cancer
patients) will be accrued into this protocol over 24-30 months.