Review
Copyright ©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Oncol. May 15, 2014; 6(5): 121-128
Published online May 15, 2014. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v6.i5.121
Neoadjuvant treatment for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Yoshifumi Baba, Masayuki Watanabe, Naoya Yoshida, Hideo Baba
Yoshifumi Baba, Naoya Yoshida, Hideo Baba, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
Masayuki Watanabe, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Cancer Institute Hospital, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Ariake 135-8550, Japan
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to this work.
Correspondence to: Hideo Baba, MD, PhD, FACS, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan. hdobaba@kumamoto-u.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-96-3735211 Fax: +81-96-3714378
Received: October 31, 2013
Revised: February 25, 2014
Accepted: April 17, 2014
Published online: May 15, 2014
Processing time: 195 Days and 2.7 Hours
Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma are types of esophageal cancer, one of the most aggressive malignant diseases. Since both histological types present entirely different diseases with different epidemiology, pathogenesis and tumor biology, separate therapeutic strategies should be developed against each type. While surgical resection remains the dominant therapeutic intervention for patients with operable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), alternative strategies are actively sought to reduce the frequency of post-operative local or distant disease recurrence. Such strategies are particularly sought in the preoperative setting. Currently, the optimal management of resectable ESCC differs widely between Western and Asian countries (such as Japan). While Western countries focus on neoadjuvant or definitive chemoradiotherapy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery is the standard treatment in Japan. Importantly, each country and region has established its own therapeutic strategy from the results of local randomized control trials. This review discusses the current knowledge, available data and information regarding neoadjuvant treatment for operable ESCC.

Keywords: Esophageal cancer; Squamous cell carcinoma; Neoadjuvant therapy

Core tip: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most aggressive malignant diseases. While surgical resection remains the dominant therapeutic intervention for patients with operable ESCC, alternative strategies are actively sought to reduce the frequency of post-operative local or distant disease recurrence. Such strategies are particularly sought in the preoperative setting. This review discusses the current knowledge, available data and information regarding neoadjuvant treatment for operable ESCC.