Definitive chemoradiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma

Abstract

Radiation therapy plays an important role in the treatment of esophageal cancer. Radiation therapy may be combined with chemotherapy, used as a component of induction therapy, used in the adjuvant setting, or used for palliation of advanced disease. Chemotherapy is also occasionally used as a solitary treatment modality for patients with esophageal cancer. Current treatment protocols include multiple agents, and agents directed against specific molecular targets have been investigated in clinical trials. This article discusses future directions related to the selection of radiation treatment protocols, novel targeted chemotherapeutic agents, and the selection of patients for surgery.