title: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for clinical stage II-III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinical significance of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) for potentially resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with clinical stage II-III ESCC were classified into an NACRT group (n=76) and surgery alone group (n=92). The prognosis and the incidence of postoperative complications were retrospectively investigated. The pathological response to NACRT and patient prognosis were also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 5-year survival rate was 47.7% in the surgery alone group and 56.5% in the NACRT group (p=0.4831). The 5-year survival rates of patients in whom NACRT was markedly effective was clearly better than that of the other patients (ineffective/slightly effective: 36.9%, moderately effective: 53.8%, markedly effective: 100%). The incidence of postoperative complications was 31.5% in the surgery alone group and 40.8% in the NACRT group (p=0.2121).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A pathological complete response to NACRT is critical for improving the survival of patients with clinical stageII-III ESCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan. h-saeki@surg2.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saeki
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: Hideto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sonoda
authors.forename: Kenkichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Akinori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Egashira
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oki
authors.forename: Takefumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohga
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kakeji
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maehara
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant