[Preoperative radiochemotherapy in esophageal carcinoma]

Patients with esophageal cancer still have on unfavourable prognosis. After standard treatment, only 10% will survive five years. During the last years a lot of study groups intended to improve patient's prognosis by the use of multimodality treatment including chemotherapy. The concept of preoperative chemotherapy seems to be most promising. In the case of stage I and II cancer (potentially resectable tumors) multimodal therapy has not proved superior to surgery alone, so far. The results of well done phase III trials have to be waited for. Prognosis of patients with locally advanced tumors has been significantly improved by preoperative radiochemotherapy compared to surgery alone. In general, patients with localized esophageal cancer should be treated in experienced cancer centers within prospective trials.