Surgical intervention after neoadjuvant therapy in esophageal cancer: a narrative review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Esophageal cancer is one of the common malignant tumors in China. Previous studies have shown that surgery alone is less effective. Neoadjuvant therapy refers to preoperative chemoradiotherapy, which is the standard treatment for locally advanced and operable esophageal cancer. Selection of appropriate surgical methods and timing after neoadjuvant therapy is of great significance for improving the prognosis of patients and reducing postoperative complications. METHODS: An online electronic search of all eligible literature through PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library database was conducted using a combination of the following keywords: esophageal cancer, neoadjuvant therapy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, immunotherapy, targeting, surgery, complications. With a focus on the use of surgery after neoadjuvant therapy, Eligible articles were identified by one or both authors. KEY CONTENT AND FINDINGS: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy combined with radical surgical resection remains the current standard of care for resectable esophageal cancer, significantly improving survival and pathologic complete response (PCR) compared with preoperative chemotherapy Recently, studies have also found that immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy has a more advantageous pathological response in patients with locally advanced disease. Although the emergence of targeted drugs has led to a change in treatment mode from traditional chemoradiotherapy to precision therapy, the postoperative progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) need to be explored as well as how surgery-related risks caused by treatment can be reduced. Traditionally, surgery is performed 4–6 weeks after neoadjuvant therapy, and optimal timing for surgery after treatment is still being explored as research progresses, the surgical method also should be determined according to the specific situation of the patient. Postoperative complications should be dealt with in a timely manner, and of course, active preoperative intervention is equally important. CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant therapy combined with surgery is the gold standard for resectable esophageal cancer. However, optimal timing of surgery after preoperative treatment remains unclear. Minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgery (including robotic surgery) has gradually replaced traditional open surgery. Active prevention before operation, accurate and meticulous operation during operation, and timely treatment after operation can minimize the incidence of adverse events.