Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery is associated with better survival outcomes in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is one of the most effective treatments to be expected to cure esophageal cancer of any stage. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is more sensitive to CRT than adenocarcinoma. Even in T4 stage ESCC, definitive CRT shows an excellent complete response (CR) rate of up to 52% (1,2). In addition, esophagectomy for ESCC is highly invasive and correlates with frequent postoperative morbidity and mortality. Thus, CRT is widely administered as treatment for ESCC, even when other treatments are considered more appropriate.