Ten-year survival of esophageal cancer after an en-bloc esophagectomy

Background Esophagectomy with gastric pull-up is the optimal treatment for patients with resectable esophageal cancer. Although the morbidity and mortality of an esophagectomy is reduced, the long-term outcome remains poor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the 10-year survival of a standardized multidisciplinary therapy concept for esophageal cancer. Methods Between 1989 and 1999, 114 patients were treated for esophageal cancer at the University of Essen. All patients underwent an en-bloc esophagectomy with systematic lymphadenectomy. Patients with locally advanced disease (stage III) received neoadjuvant therapy. All patients were followed-up for 10 years or more or until death. Results The 3-year survival was 35%, the 5-year survival 25%, and the 10-year survival was 18%. The recurrence rate was 44% with a median time of 13 months. There was no significant difference in survival between patients with locally advanced disease who received neoadjuvant therapy and patients with early disease (stadium I + II) who underwent surgery alone. Of the patients who achieved 10-year survival, 60% had locally advanced disease and received neoadjuvant therapy. Conclusion Patients with locally advanced disease, managed by a multidisciplinary treatment strategy, achieved a similar long-term survival to patients with early disease (stadium I + II). J. Surg. Oncol. 2012; 105:284–287. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.