Combined modality therapy for esophageal cancer.

Whereas many patients with esophageal carcinoma present with what appears to be localized disease, cure rates with surgical resection alone remain low. Although surgical resection, where feasible, affords patients the best chance of cure, the primary tumor has often invaded local tissues or structures, and occult micrometastases often exist at the time of presentation. In an effort to improve treatment results, various combinations of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy have been used. The results of combined modality therapy are reviewed in this article. The importance of accurate pretreatment staging is discussed, and ongoing prospective randomized trials are reviewed.