Table 1 Inclusion criteria
# | Inclusion criteria |
|---|---|
1. | Histologically proven adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction type I-II according to Siewert’s classification, clinical stages IIB-IIIC (T3/T4 and/or N+; M0) according to UICC, 7th edition |
2. | Male |
3. | Age between 18 and 75 years |
4. | Resectable stage according to discussion in the local multidisciplinary tumor board (MDT) of the participating centers and patient medically fit for multimodality therapy (ECOG performance status at least 1 or better, no severe impairment of cardiac, renal, hepatic, endocrine, bone marrow and cerebral functions) |
5. | Planned abdomino-thoracic esophagectomy with gastric pull-up and intrathoracic or cervical anastomosis |
6. | Cognitive ability of the patient to understand the perioperative program and to participate actively [40, 41] |