title: Benefits and Disadvantages of Neoadjuvant Radiochemotherapy (RCT) in the Multimodal Therapy of Squamous Esophageal Cancer (ESC).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this paper is to present the advantages and disadvantages of neoadjuvant RCT in multimodal therapyof ESC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1998-2014 221 patients were treated with ESC, 85 of whom received neoadjuvant RCT. For these we have made imaging and pathologic assessment of response using RECIST and MANDARD criteria and statistical data were interpreted in terms of the factors that influence the response. Also, they were evaluated statistical correlations between RCT and resectability, postoperative morbidity, mortality and long-term survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  45 patients were imagistic responders and 34 underwent surgery, 40 non-responders of which 14 underwent surgery. Of the 48 surgical patients with preoperative RCT, histopathological evaluation showed that 32 were pathological responders and 16 non responders. There were performed statistical analyzes of correlations between RCT and resectability, stage, location of ESC, morbidity, mortality and survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RCT increase resectability, improves survival and maximum duration of survival, more in responders than in nonresponders and does not affect postoperative complications and postoperative mortality, nor among the responders or nonresponders. Imaging evaluation result of the response to RCT overestimate responders.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: Rodica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Birla
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iosif
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boeriu
authors.forename: Silviu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Constantinoiu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome