Current status of research on concurrent chemoradiotherapy after surgery for esophageal cancer

Currently, resectable esophageal cancer is commonly initially treated with surgery in China, but the optimal postoperative treatment remains unclear. Postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy can improve local control and reduce distant metastasis and may become the preferred treatment for patients after surgery for esophageal cancer. By summarizing the studies on concurrent chemoradiotherapy after surgery for esophageal cancer, this review points out that postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy can improve the overall survival of patients with positive lymph nodes and has tolerable adverse effects, but the populations who can benefit from this treatment, the optimal radiotherapy dosage, target volume, and chemotherapy regimen of postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy await further investigation. Key words: Esophageal neoplasms/radiochemotherapy; Radiochemotherapy, postoperation; Radiochemotherapy, concurrent