Current status and future perspectives of chemoradiation therapy for esophageal cancer

It has been established that chemoradiation therapy (CRT) is superior to radiation therapy alone as the treatment method for esophageal cancer. In addition, CRT has been becoming to be identified one of the standard treatment method not only for inoperable advanced esophageal cancer but also for operable esophageal cancer. Since the number of patients who survive long time after CRT is increasing, stent insertion before CRT must be prohibited because stent insertion seems to increase the risk of severe fatal complications. (author)