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Esophageal cancer is rare but virulent and is the seventh-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in American men. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is more common in people of African and Asian descent, whereas adenocarcinoma of the esophagus predominates in whites and is increasing in incidence. Survival after surgery alone for locally advanced esophageal cancer of either type is poor, ranging from 20% to 40% at 5 years. Older studies of preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in conjunction with surgery in esophageal cancer patients failed to show a clear overall survival benefit. However, many of the studies were small and statistically underpowered to detect modest survival benefits with adjuvant therapy.
Researchers now report result…