Curative potential of nonoperative treatment strategies for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction

Background Due to comorbidities and high age patients with localized adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEGJ) often have contraindications for surgery. Objective This raises the question of whether there are curative treatment options without surgery. Material and methods Following a nonsystematic search of the literature the published data on definitive chemoradiotherapy are reported. Results Retrospective cohort studies from centers in western countries show that patients with resectable AEGJ can have long-term survival and can possibly be cured by definitive chemoradiotherapy. Conclusion The treatment option of definitive chemoradiotherapy needs to be discussed in the interdisciplinary tumor board, not only for patients with squamous cell cancer of the esophagus but also for those with AEGJ. This is particularly true if complete remission has been clinically achieved.