Multimodal therapy for squamous carcinoma of the oesophagus

The results of surgical treatment for oesophageal squamous cell cancer have improved over recent decades, but the long-term prognosis for patients with tumours of stage II or higher is still unsatisfactory. While uncontrolled series of adjuvant or neoadjuvant treatment have reported favourable survival rates, the true benefit of multimodal treatment can be determined only by randomized controlled trials.

The literature was searched for prospective randomized controlled trials (PRCTs) examining the effect of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment on the long-term survival of patients with squamous cell cancer of the oesophagus.

More than 30 PRCTs studying multimodal treatment concepts aimed at improving the prognosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus were identified. These trials have not documented improved survival by adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Following neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy (or a combination of both), resectability of squamous cell carcinoma is not increased, the postoperative mortality rate appears to be higher and survival is not prolonged.

Past multimodality protocols have not improved the prognosis of squamous carcinoma of the oesophagus. Careful design and reporting, together with strict control of surgical procedures, should allow more meaningful analysis of future multimodal treatment studies. At present, neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment cannot be recommended outside such clinical protocols.