Proton beam vs. X-Ray radiation: which is better for esophageal cancer?

NCT ID NCT03801876

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: NRG Oncology Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study compares two radiation techniques for people with stage I to IVA esophageal cancer: proton beam therapy (which uses protons) and intensity modulated photon radiotherapy (which uses X-rays). The goal is to see which one works better at helping people live longer and causes fewer serious heart and lung side effects. About 300 participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two treatments, and some may also receive chemotherapy.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Proton beam therapy (PBT) and intensity modulated photon radiotherapy (IMRT)
What this could lead to: If proton therapy works better, it could become a new standard treatment for esophageal cancer, offering longer survival with fewer heart and lung complications.
What could go wrong: This is a large phase 3 trial, but results are not guaranteed. Proton therapy may not prove superior to standard radiation, and side effects or logistical challenges could limit its use.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for CLINICAL STAGE I ESOPHAGEAL ADENOCARCINOMA AJCC V8 are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

esophageal adenocarcinoma esophageal squamous cell carcinoma gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Show contact details

Locations

Alton Memorial Hospital
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Alton, Illinois, 62002, United States
Case Western Reserve University
RECRUITING

Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital
RECRUITING

Troy, Michigan, 48085, United States
Corewell Health Dearborn Hospital
RECRUITING

Dearborn, Michigan, 48124, United States
Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital
RECRUITING

Royal Oak, Michigan, 48073, United States
Covenant Health Cancer Centers
RECRUITING

Knoxville, Tennessee, 37916, United States
Covenant Health Cancer Centers - West
RECRUITING

Knoxville, Tennessee, 37932, United States
Covenant Health Oncology Group - Maryville
SUSPENDED

Maryville, Tennessee, 37804, United States
Covenant Health Oncology Group - Oak Ridge
RECRUITING

Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37830, United States
Covenant Health Proton Center
RECRUITING

Knoxville, Tennessee, 37909, United States
Emory Proton Therapy Center
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Atlanta, Georgia, 30308, United States
Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Atlanta, Georgia, 30342, United States
Emory University Hospital Midtown
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Atlanta, Georgia, 30308, United States
Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
Geauga Hospital
RECRUITING

Chardon, Ohio, 44024, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Hennepin County Medical Center
RECRUITING

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55415, United States
Huntsman Cancer Institute/University of Utah
RECRUITING

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Inova Alexandria Hospital
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Alexandria, Virginia, 22304, United States
Inova Fair Oaks Hospital
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Fairfax, Virginia, 22033, United States
Inova Loudoun Hospital
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Leesburg, Virginia, 20176, United States
Inova Schar Cancer Institute
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Fairfax, Virginia, 22031, United States
Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Greater Lansing
RECRUITING

Lansing, Michigan, 48910, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
MD Anderson West Houston
RECRUITING

Houston, Texas, 77079, United States
MD Anderson in Sugar Land
RECRUITING

Sugar Land, Texas, 77478, United States
MD Anderson in The Woodlands
RECRUITING

Conroe, Texas, 77384, United States
Maryland Proton Treatment Center
RECRUITING

Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea
COMPLETED

Albert Lea, Minnesota, 56007, United States
Mayo Clinic Health System-Eau Claire Clinic
COMPLETED

Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 54701, United States
Mayo Clinic Health Systems-Mankato
COMPLETED

Mankato, Minnesota, 56001, United States
Mayo Clinic Hospital in Arizona
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Phoenix, Arizona, 85054, United States
Mayo Clinic Radiation Therapy-Northfield
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Northfield, Minnesota, 55057, United States
Mayo Clinic in Arizona
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Scottsdale, Arizona, 85259, United States
Mayo Clinic in Rochester
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
McLaren Cancer Institute-Bay City
RECRUITING

Bay City, Michigan, 48706, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
McLaren Cancer Institute-Central Michigan
RECRUITING

Mount Pleasant, Michigan, 48858, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
McLaren Cancer Institute-Flint
RECRUITING

Flint, Michigan, 48532, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
McLaren Cancer Institute-Lapeer Region
RECRUITING

Lapeer, Michigan, 48446, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
McLaren Cancer Institute-Owosso
RECRUITING

Owosso, Michigan, 48867, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Memorial Hospital East
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Shiloh, Illinois, 62269, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge
RECRUITING

Basking Ridge, New Jersey, 07920, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen
RECRUITING

Montvale, New Jersey, 07645, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
RECRUITING

New York, New York, 10065, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Commack
RECRUITING

Commack, New York, 11725, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth
RECRUITING

Middletown, New Jersey, 07748, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau
RECRUITING

Uniondale, New York, 11553, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester
RECRUITING

Harrison, New York, 10604, United States
Mercy Cancer Center-Elyria
SUSPENDED

Elyria, Ohio, 44035, United States
Mercy Hospital
RECRUITING

Coon Rapids, Minnesota, 55433, United States
Mercy Hospital Saint Louis
RECRUITING

St Louis, Missouri, 63141, United States
Mercy Hospital South
RECRUITING

St Louis, Missouri, 63128, United States
Mercy Hospital Springfield
RECRUITING

Springfield, Missouri, 65804, United States
Miami Cancer Institute
RECRUITING

Miami, Florida, 33176, United States
Minnesota Oncology Hematology PA-Maplewood
RECRUITING

Maplewood, Minnesota, 55109, United States
New York Proton Center
RECRUITING

New York, New York, 10035, United States
Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Delnor
RECRUITING

Geneva, Illinois, 60134, United States
Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Kishwaukee
RECRUITING

DeKalb, Illinois, 60115, United States
Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Warrenville
RECRUITING

Warrenville, Illinois, 60555, United States
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States
Orlando Health Cancer Institute
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Orlando, Florida, 32806, United States
Ridgeview Medical Center
RECRUITING

Waconia, Minnesota, 55387, United States
Siteman Cancer Center at Christian Hospital
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

St Louis, Missouri, 63136, United States
Siteman Cancer Center at Saint Peters Hospital
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

City of Saint Peters, Missouri, 63376, United States
Siteman Cancer Center at West County Hospital
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Creve Coeur, Missouri, 63141, United States
Siteman Cancer Center-South County
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

St Louis, Missouri, 63129, United States
UH Seidman Cancer Center at Firelands Regional Medical Center
RECRUITING

Sandusky, Ohio, 44870, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
UH Seidman Cancer Center at Lake Health Mentor Campus
RECRUITING

Mentor, Ohio, 44060, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
UH Seidman Cancer Center at Landerbrook Health Center
SUSPENDED

Mayfield Heights, Ohio, 44124, United States
UH Seidman Cancer Center at Saint John Medical Center
SUSPENDED

Westlake, Ohio, 44145, United States
UH Seidman Cancer Center at Southwest General Hospital
RECRUITING

Middleburg Heights, Ohio, 44130, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
UH Seidman Cancer Center at UH Avon Health Center
RECRUITING

Avon, Ohio, 44011, United States
UHHS-Chagrin Highlands Medical Center
RECRUITING

Beachwood, Ohio, 44122, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
UHHS-Westlake Medical Center
RECRUITING

Westlake, Ohio, 44145, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at Coral Gables
RECRUITING

Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, United States
UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at Deerfield Beach
RECRUITING

Deerfield Beach, Florida, 33442, United States
UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at Doral
RECRUITING

Doral, Florida, 33166, United States
UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at Kendall
RECRUITING

Miami, Florida, 33176, United States
UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at Plantation
RECRUITING

Plantation, Florida, 33324, United States
UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Center
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Bel Air, Maryland, 21014, United States
UT MD Anderson - League City
RECRUITING

League City, Texas, 77573, United States
UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
Unity Hospital
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Fridley, Minnesota, 55432, United States
University Hospitals Parma Medical Center
RECRUITING

Parma, Ohio, 44129, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
University Hospitals Portage Medical Center
RECRUITING

Ravenna, Ohio, 44266, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
University Hospitals Sharon Health Center
RECRUITING

Wadsworth, Ohio, 44281, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
RECRUITING

Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, United States
University of Cincinnati Cancer Center-UC Medical Center
RECRUITING

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45219, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
University of Cincinnati Cancer Center-West Chester
RECRUITING

West Chester, Ohio, 45069, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
University of Maryland/Greenebaum Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine-Sylvester Cancer Center
RECRUITING

Miami, Florida, 33136, United States
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
RECRUITING

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104, United States
University of Pennsylvania/Abramson Cancer Center
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
University of Washington Medical Center - Montlake
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Seattle, Washington, 98195, United States
Washington University School of Medicine
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States
Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute
RECRUITING

Detroit, Michigan, 48201, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••
Weisberg Cancer Treatment Center
RECRUITING

Farmington Hills, Michigan, 48334, United States

Contact Email: •••••@•••••

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.