Abstract: The morbidity and mortality of esophageal carcinoma showed an upward trend in recent years. Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy is the main mode of treatment for advanced esophageal carcinoma, including neoadjuvant chemotherapy, neoadjuvant radiotherapy and neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy. However, there are still many controversies on efficacies and advantages or disadvantages of treatment mode. In this article, authors will investigate the present situations and future direction of neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced esophageal carcinoma.