Abstract: A high incidence of esophageal cancer exists in China. Surgical resection remains the dominant therapeutic intervention for patients with operable esophageal carcinoma. However, alternative strategies are actively applied to reduce the frequency of post-op-erative local or distant disease recurrence and to prolong survival. These strategies include neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies. This review discusses the current knowledge, as well as available data and information, with regard to neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies for patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer.