Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer

Malignancies of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract pose substantial challenges for therapy (Tables 7–1 and 7–2). Surgery remains the only known therapeutic method for this group of diseases; however, 5-year survival rates continue to be low even after definitive resection. Such results have stimulated interest in alternate and combined forms of management for these malignancies. Experience with chemotherapy and radiation therapy is growing. This chapter compares various therapeutic approaches within each disease group and highlights selected chemotherapy regimens that either are in common use or have unique applications in upper GI tract cancer.