A systematic review and network meta-analysis of neoadjuvant therapy combined with surgery for patients with resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

•Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) accounts for most cases of esophageal carcinoma worldwide.•Evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for improved effects of neoadjuvant therapy is inconsistent.•Traditional meta-analysis cannot integrate all the evidence from different therapeutic methods at the same time.•A network meta-analysis was used to simultaneously combine both direct and indirect evidence from RCTs for ESCC.