Pilot Study of Biomarkers for Radiation Therapy

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients > 18 years of age with primary lung, esophageal or rectal cancer receiving neo-adjuvant chemoradiotherapy before planned resection
• patients with clinically localized prostate cancer receiving definitive radiation therapy with external beam treatment. brachytherapy as a boost and/or hormonal therapy are allowed.
• patients with head and neck, lung, esophageal or cervical cancer who will receive definitive radiotherapy

Exclusion Criteria:

• prior history of chemotherapy given within 6 months before enrollment.
• prior radiotherapy or radionuclide treatment and/or brachytherapy within 6 months prior to enrollment.
• unwillingness to comply with tests, protocol, or informed consent.
• concurrent enrollment on any protocol that would require non-compliance with treatment procedures.
• chemotherapy required within 2 hours following first dose of XRT.
• PET scan done within 48 hours of first blood draw.
• nuclear medicine exposure within 4 days prior to first draw.