Has combined modality therapy improved the outlook in carcinoma of the esophagus?

Carcinoma of the esophagus or the gastroesophageal junction is uncommon, accounting for approximately 1% of all malignancies in the United States. Approximately 11,000 new cases and 10,400 deaths are estimated in 1994. The diagnosis is often made late in Western countries, thus T3, T4, and N-positive lesions are encountered frequently. Nearly 50% of patients have advanced incurable disease at the time of diagnosis. Therefore, the prognosis of patients with carcinoma of the esophagus remains poor and the overall 5-year survival rates are still under 10%. The answer to the question in the title is yes, at least for some patients, on a short-term basis.