title: [Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus].
abstract: The prognosis of locally advanced squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the esophagus after surgery only is poor. Therefore a definitive chemoradiotherapy (RCTx) was also discussed as the therapy of choice. Besides tumor biology, patient-related factors, such as alcohol and nicotine abuse increase the perioperative mortality and morbidity. Multimodal treatment can improve the outcome in comparison to surgery alone. A recently published meta-analysis confirmed that preoperative RCTx followed by surgery improves the prognosis compared to surgery alone in SCC of the esophagus. After chemotherapy this effect is less pronounced. Patients with a complete histopathological response (pCR) after preoperative RCTx have a 5-year survival rate of more than 55% and a low probability of local recurrence. However, a pCR cannot be predicted neither by negative biopsy nor by negative FDG-PET uptake after RCTx. Up to now FDG-PET has shown a low impact for response prediction or therapy modification in SCC of the esophagus in clinical studies. Responding patients should be transferred to surgery after preoperative treatment, because of a reduced perioperative morbidity and mortality and improved prognosis.
authors: Chirurgische Klinik, Universität Heidelberg, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120, Heidelberg, Deutschland. Katja.Ott@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Ott
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Sisic
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Büchler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007583:Jejunum / Q000637:transplantation; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18