title: Review of chemotherapeutic approaches for operable and inoperable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: The predominant histological types of esophageal cancer are adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Since these two histological types present as different diseases in terms of their epidemiology, pathologenesis, and tumor biology, separate therapeutic approaches should be developed against each type. While surgical resection remains the dominant therapeutic intervention for patients with operable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), their high rates of tumor recurrence have prompted investigation of multimodality therapies that combine surgery with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and chemoradiotherapy. In Japan, preoperative chemotherapy with cisplatin (CDDP) plus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) followed by radical esophagectomy has been accepted as the standard therapeutic approach for resactable clinical Stage II/III ESCC. Similarly, the CDDP and 5-FU regimen has been accepted as the first-line treatment for metastatic and unresectable ESCCs in Japan. Thus, in Japan chemotherapy is an indispensable component of therapy for both resectable and unresectable ESCCs. This review discusses the current knowledge, rationale, and available data regarding chemotherapy for resectable and unresectable ESCCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.|Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Kyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Kyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saeki
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Kyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Kyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oki
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shigaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Cancer Institute Hospital, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Kyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maehara
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baba
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D016629:Esophagectomy / Q000379:methods; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil
keywords: esophageal cancer; neoadjuvant therapy; squamous cell carcinoma