The Progress of Combined Modality Therapy for Esophageal Cancer

The relative poor outcome with surgery alone or radiation alone has prompted the development of combined modality therapy for esophageal cancer.Recent clinical trials have evaluated the use of preoperative(neoadjuvant)chemotherapy followed by surgery,combined concurrent preoperative chemo-radiotherapy,or chemo-radiotherapy alone without surgery for local disease,and postoperative(adjuvant)chemotherapy for the patients with high risk of recurrence.Combined modality therapy for esophageal cancer is the one of the most important methods to improve the survival and quality of life.This article reviews the current progress of the comprehensive therapy for esophageal cancer.