Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Of Esophageal Cancer

In the past decade, we have seen an increasing number of reports on the long-term curative effect and safety of preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy (neoadjuvant CRT) in treating advanced esophageal carcinoma. Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy will both downstage the tumor and improve survival, which led to the widespread adoption of the therapy. CRT with or without surgery is the most common treatment strategy for resectable esophageal cancer in Western countries. To improve the curative effect of CRT, future investigation must focus on the development of new biologic or chemotherapeutic agents, and the identification of biologic markers that might predict response to chemoradiotherapy.