AUTHOR=Greten Tim , Rahma Osama , Duffy Austin TITLE=Locally Advanced Cancer of the Esophagus, Current Treatment Strategies, and Future Directions JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology VOLUME=Volume 2 - 2012 YEAR=2012 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2012.00052 DOI=10.3389/fonc.2012.00052 ISSN=2234-943X ABSTRACT=

For patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer no clear standard of care exists. Notwithstanding several negative phase III studies the data provide support for so-called trimodality treatment and this is probably the most common approach. Even the role of surgery has been questioned. These alternative approaches are set against a changing epidemiological background whereby adenocarcinoma has become the predominant tumor type, at least in the western world. In recent times an emphasis has been placed on the better selection of patients, predominantly based on data that shows a markedly improved survival in those who exhibit a response to neo-adjuvant therapy. In this article we review the major studies and discuss new approaches to the management of patients with locally advanced cancer of the esophagus.