Therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy are given to patients with tumors of the esophagus and stomach prior to surgery to improve the effectiveness of surgery. As part of a multidisciplinary team, radiation oncologists at Johns Hopkins use deep expertise in radiation therapy, sophisticated planning platforms and innovative clinical trials to elevate the standard of care for patients with esophageal and stomach cancers.

Esophageal and Stomach Cancers: Why Choose Johns Hopkins

• Expertise: The expertise behind our technology is what makes John Hopkins stand out in the field of radiation oncology for brain and spine tumors. For example, our radiation oncologists pioneered the aggressive application of radiation to treat brain tumor metastasis. Patients may be given radiation therapy to continue targeting and killing cancer cells during their breaks from chemotherapy. Our work in this area has prompted other hospitals to offer this treatment to their patients. Even if cancer originates in another part of the body, physicians will refer patients to our radiation oncologists to treat cancer that has spread to the brain or spine.
• We offer fully integrated, multidisciplinary care. In addition to our physician team of radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, thoracic surgeons, thoracic pathologists and chest radiologists, our patients also have access to experts in nutrition, social work, research, pastoral care and nursing. Our collaborative approach allows us to create a hybrid treatment plan, which may include radiation, for patients who don’t respond well to initial chemotherapy treatment. In addition, our oncology team is affiliated with the Lung Cancer Program at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, which is a Lung Cancer Alliance Screening Center of Excellence.
• We develop individualized treatment plans. Our care team works through the nuances of each patient’s health situation to devise a customized treatment plan.  Customization is at the core of our patient-centered approach to esophageal and stomach cancer treatment. Each plan is focused on treating the cancer effectively while reducing side effects.
• We offer deep expertise in radiation therapy. Similar to surgery, the success of radiation therapy depends on the skills and experience of the operator, especially when it comes to using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Many facilities offer IMRT-based therapy, which adds even more complexity to radiation planning to enable better and safer treatment. Our board-certified radiation oncologists have become experts in using IMRT for esophageal and stomach cancer management.
• We use the most sophisticated radiation-planning platforms available with IMRT. Using advanced technology and planning tools, our radiation oncologists have developed specialized expertise in radiation optimization for esophageal cancer.
• Our patients have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials that may lead to improved treatments and survival outcomes.

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Our Esophageal and Stomach Cancer Treatments

IMRT is the primary form of radiation used to treat esophageal cancer. We use this technology to adjust the location and intensity of radiation beams in real time, optimizing the potency and precision of treatment.

Learn more about stomach cancer care.

Our Research

Johns Hopkins is one of the first centers in the U.S. (and one of only a few sites in the world) to begin treating locally advanced esophageal cancer with a combination of immunotherapy, chemotherapy and radiation (also known as immuno-RT). Designed to enhance traditional chemotherapy and radiation treatment, immunotherapy helps activate the immune system to find and destroy cancer cells.

There is emerging research that suggests a relationship between radiation and immunotherapy. This interaction may enhance the effectiveness of both treatments. Johns Hopkins is exploring how this may impact outcomes for people with esophageal cancer. Following radiation and immunotherapy, patients will be given surgery to complete the treatment regime.

Learn more about current research and clinical trials for esophageal cancer.