Progress in adjuvant therapy decision-making after endoscopic resection of early esophageal cancer

Abstract

Both endoscopic resection and surgery are the common treatment modes for early esophageal cancer. Compared with radical surgery, endoscopic resection has the advantages of less trauma, quicker recovery, lower cost, less complications, the preservation of the normal anatomy, the physiological function of the esophagus, and higher postoperative quality of life. For patients with a high risk of lymph node metastasis, endoscopic resection alone can lead to inadequate treatment, which need adjuvant therapies. Currently, the common adjuvant therapies consist of adjuvant radiochemotherapy and adjuvant radiochemotherapy combined with surgery. How to combine endoscopic resection with adjuvant therapy to bring maximal benefits to patients has become the hot topic in the field of clinical researches. In this article, the current research status, progress and challenges in the combination of endoscopic resection and adjuvant therapy for the treatment of high-risk patients were reviewed. Key words: Esophageal neoplasm/endoscopic resection; Esophageal neoplasm/surgery; Esophageal neoplasms/chemoradiotherapy; Progress