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Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery
Published in: Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery 2/2013

01-02-2013 | Review Article

Multimodal treatment of esophageal cancer

Authors: Florian Lordick, Arnulf H. Hölscher, Karen Haustermans, Christian Wittekind

Published in: Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery | Issue 2/2013

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Abstract

Background

The treatment of localized esophageal cancer has been debated controversially over the past decades. Neoadjuvant treatment was used empirically, but evidence was limited due to the lack of high-quality confirmatory studies. Meanwhile, data have become much clearer due to recently published well-conducted randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses.

Methods

Neoadjuvant and perioperative platinum fluoropyrimidine-based combination chemotherapy has now an established role in the treatment of stage II and stage III esophageal adenocarcinoma and cancer of the esophago-gastric junction. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation is now the standard of care for treating stage II and stage III esophageal squamous cell cancer and can also be considered for treating esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Results

Patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer treated with definitive chemoradiation achieve comparable long-term survival compared with surgery. Short-term mortality is less with chemoradiation alone, but local tumor control is significantly better with surgery.

Conclusion

This expert review article outlines current data and literature and delineates recommendable treatment guidelines for localized esophageal cancer.
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Metadata
Title
Multimodal treatment of esophageal cancer
Authors
Florian Lordick
Arnulf H. Hölscher
Karen Haustermans
Christian Wittekind
Publication date
01-02-2013
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery / Issue 2/2013
Print ISSN: 1435-2443
Electronic ISSN: 1435-2451
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-012-1001-1

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