Abstract: Objective To evaluate the value of Ne-adjuvant chemotherapy in the reduction of micrometastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods Eighty cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were randomly divided into two groups:(1) surgery group and (2) Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy group:Oxaliplatin,Fluorouracil and Leucovorin were used before operation.Two hundred and forty seven lymph nodes were negative by HE staining negative with thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and examined by immunohistochemical method using the monoclonal antibody AE1/AE3 to define histologically undetectable micrometastasis. Results AE1/AE3-positive lymph node metastases were significantly decreased in Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy group than that in surgery group. Conclusion Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy is effective in reduction of micrometastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.