Current and ongoing progress in the therapy for resectable esophageal cancer

There have been recent advances in the surgical approach to respectable esophageal cancer. In addition, despite the paucity of level 1 data, regardless of histology (squamous cell or adenocarcinoma), neo-adjuvant chemoradiotherapy has evolved into a de facto standard of care for resectable disease. Pathologic response rate is a surrogate for a more favorable outcome. In addition, there are a number of molecularly targeted agents that may have clinical utility for these patients. Current clinical trials have been designed with a translational research component to define which patients may benefit from the incorporation of these novel agents alongside standard combined-modality approaches.