Abstract: China is a high risk region of esophageal cancer in the world, and 95% of the esophageal cancer is the squamous cell carcinoma. Surgery is the main therapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, however, the efficacy of single surgery for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is unsatisfactory. Compared with postoperative adjuvant treatment, neoadjuvant chemotherapy may reduce tumor volume, increase surgical resectability, eliminate subclinical metastases, prolong survival time and improve prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Through combining recent evidence-based medicine, the authors review research progress of new adjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.