Search research articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Chemotherapy for gastrointestinal malignancy

L D Van der Veer, J A Balint

The American Journal of Gastroenterology

|July 1, 1980

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Five years of complete remission of gastric diffuse large B cell lymphoma after eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Gut·2003

Same author

Decisions at the end of life.

Croatian medical journal·2000

Same author

Brief encounters: speaking with patients.

Annals of internal medicine·1999

Same author

Fair treatment of alcoholic patients in the context of liver transplantation.

Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research·1997

Same author

Performance-based assessment of moral reasoning and ethical judgment among medical students.

Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges·1994

Same author

Remedial medical education.

Archives of internal medicine·1994

Same journal

Calendar of Courses, Symposiums and Conferences.

The American journal of gastroenterology·2026

Same journal

Molecular Nonendoscopic Tests for the Early Detection of Esophageal Squamous Carcinoma and High-Grade Dysplasia: Promising Progress.

The American journal of gastroenterology·2026

Same journal

ACG Clinical Guideline: Colonic Diverticulitis.

The American journal of gastroenterology·2026

Same journal

Continuing Medical Education Questions: July 2026.

The American journal of gastroenterology·2026

Same journal

Continuing Medical Education Questions: July 2026.

The American journal of gastroenterology·2026

Same journal

2026 CME Information.

The American journal of gastroenterology·2026

See all related articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Gastrointestinal cancers are often unresectable, with chemotherapy offering limited survival benefits for esophageal, gastric, and pancreatic cancers. Colorectal cancer shows a modest response, highlighting the need for individualized treatment decisions.

Area of Science:

Oncology
Gastroenterology

Background:

Gastrointestinal cancers frequently present as unresectable at diagnosis, leading to poor prognoses.
Chemotherapy is a common treatment modality aimed at prolonging life and managing symptoms in these patients.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the efficacy of chemotherapy in various advanced gastrointestinal malignancies.
To discuss the balance between potential palliation and adverse side effects of chemotherapy.

Main Methods:

Literature review of chemotherapy response rates and survival outcomes in esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers.
Analysis of patient data regarding response to chemotherapy and survival duration.

Main Results:

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma demonstrates poor response to chemotherapy.

Related Experiment Videos

Gastric carcinoma shows higher response rates but limited overall survival improvement.

Advanced pancreatic carcinoma has transient responses with short median survival.

Less than 20% of advanced colorectal cancers respond to chemotherapy, with responders living several months longer.

Conclusions:

Chemotherapy offers limited benefits for most advanced gastrointestinal cancers, necessitating careful consideration of risks and benefits.
Adjuvant chemotherapy's efficacy is still under evaluation, but shows potential for cautious optimism.