Current Status and Future Prospects for Esophageal Cancer

Abstract

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the ninth most common cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) are the two main histological subtypes with distinct epidemiological and clinical features. While the global incidence of ESCC is declining, the incidence of EAC is increasing in many countries. Decades of epidemiologic research have identified distinct environmental exposures for ESCC and EAC subtypes. Recent advances in understanding the genomic aspects of EC have advanced our understanding of EC causes and led to using specific genomic alterations in EC tumors as biomarkers for early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of this cancer. Nevertheless, the prognosis of EC is still poor, with a five-year survival rate of less than 20%. Currently, there are significant challenges for early detection and secondary prevention for both ESCC and EAC subtypes, but Cytosponge™ is shifting this position for EAC. Primary prevention remains the preferred strategy for reducing the global burden of EC. In this review, we will summarize recent advances, current status, and future prospects of the studies related to epidemiology, time trends, environmental risk factors, prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment for both EC subtypes.

Poor oral health and the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in Malawi

“…Malawi has the highest estimated incidence rate (17.5/100,000) of esophageal cancer in the world, with about 90% of cases being ESCC. 1,5,6 Most ESCC cases in Malawi present with advanced disease and patients typically die within a few months. Although ESCC is a very common cause of cancer death in Malawi, there has yet to be a systematic evaluation of its etiology or how to reduce its mortality burden in this population.…”

“…Malawi has the highest estimated incidence rate (17.5/100,000) of esophageal cancer in the world, with about 90% of cases being ESCC 1,5,6 . Most ESCC cases in Malawi present with advanced disease and patients typically die within a few months.…”

Esophageal surgical Apgar score (eSAS): A predictor for postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy and esophagectomy

“…1 The majority of EC cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, with a five-year survival rate scarcely surpassing 40%. 2,3 Surgical intervention remains the primary course of treatment, and numerous studies have indicated that postoperative resection subsequent to neoadjuvant therapy can ameliorate the prognosis of patients with early-stage localized and metastatic EC. [4][5][6] In 2019, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recommended that locally advanced EC patients could derive immense benefits from neoadjuvant therapy.…”

Squamous cell carcinoma‐derived G‐CSF promotes tumor growth and metastasis in mice through neutrophil recruitment and tumor cell proliferation, associated with poor prognosis of the patients

“…Lymph node (LN) metastasis and lung metastasis define clinical stages of malignancy. Although multimodal treatments including chemotherapy and radiation have improved prognosis of the ESCC patients considerably (Ando et al, 2012;Doki et al, 2022;Sheikh et al, 2023;van Hagen et al, 2012), the overall 5-year survival rate is Kohei Kemuriyama and Jianbo An contributed equally to this study. still low compared with other types of cancers, which underscores the importance of developing alternative therapeutic strategy for treating ESCC patients.…”