Multimodality Therapy Including Proton Beam Therapy for AFP Producing Esophageal Cancer with Multiple Liver Metastases

Intern Med. 2018 Aug 15;57(16):2333-2339. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.0270-17. Epub 2018 Mar 30.

Abstract

A 50-year-old man who presented with a fever and epigastralgia was diagnosed to have esophageal carcinoma which was identified as poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma producing alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) with Barrett's esophagus. Computed tomography revealed multiple liver metastases and lymph node metastases surrounding the stomach. We first performed chemotherapy for the systemic lesions and proton beam therapy for the local control of lesions without complete remission and we were able to successfully control the frequently recurring lesions by proton beam therapy, cryotherapy and chemotherapy. A complete response has been maintained for 16 months and the overall survival time is 4 years and 2 months. Proton beam therapy for primary esophageal cancer and metastatic lesions was thus found to be an effective therapeutic option for such cases.

Keywords: Barrett's cancer; alpha-fetoprotein; proton beam therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary
  • Adenocarcinoma / therapy*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / etiology
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Liver Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Proton Therapy*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • alpha-Fetoproteins / physiology*

Substances

  • alpha-Fetoproteins