The significance of surgery following concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal cancer is the sixth most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide because of its poor prognosis (1). Advanced esophageal cancer cannot be cured by a traditional monotherapy method; instead a multidisciplinary therapy is required. Many therapeutic strategies have been developed to date, and several controlled studies have been performed to ensure their efficacy.