Esophageal Cancer: Current Options for Therapeutic Management

Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) is the eighth most common cancer worldwide. A worldwide- established consensus on therapeutic pathways for EC is still missing. Debate exists on whether neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment regimens improve the prognosis and which surgical approach reaches objective benefits. Summary: This article discusses the appropriate option of the current different curative treatments in patients with EC, including surgical treatment and adjuvant therapy. Key Message: To maximize survival and quality of life and also decrease postoperative complications, the present recommended therapeutic management of EC should be individualized multidisciplinary team approaches according to patients' staging and physiologic reserve. Practical Implications: The aim of this article is to provide a decision support and also a discussion based on clinical therapeutic strategy in order to characterize the beneficial approach which reaches an optimal balance between radical resection, postoperative outcome and long-term survival of EC. (C) 2014 S.Karger AG, Basel