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Esophageal cancer

Topic: Medicine

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 22 min
Short description: Gastrointestinal system cancer that is located in the esophagus
Esophageal cancer
Other namesOesophageal cancer
Esophageal adenoca.jpg
Endoscopic image of an esophageal adenocarcinoma
SpecialtyGastroenterology General surgery oncology
SymptomsDifficulty swallowing, weight loss, hoarse voice, enlarged lymph nodes around the collarbone, vomiting blood,[1] blood in the stool
TypesEsophageal squamous-cell carcinoma, esophageal adenocarcinoma[2]
Risk factorsSmoking tobacco, alcohol, very hot drinks, chewing betel nut, obesity, acid reflux[3][4]
Diagnostic methodTissue biopsy[5]
TreatmentSurgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy[5]
PrognosisFive-year survival rates ~15%[1][6]
Frequency746,000 affected as of 2015[7]
Deaths509,000 (2018)[8]

Esophageal cancer is cancer arising from the esophagus—the food pipe that runs between the throat and the stomach.[2] Symptoms often include difficulty in swallowing and weight loss.[1] Other symptoms may include pain when swallowing, a hoarse voice, enlarged lymph nodes ("glands") around the collarbone, a dry cough, and possibly coughing up or vomiting blood.[1]

The two main sub-types of the disease are esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (often abbreviated to ESCC),[9] which is more common in the developing world, and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), which is more common in the developed world.[2] A number of less common types also occur.[2] Squamous-cell carcinoma arises from the epithelial cells that line the esophagus.[10] Adenocarcinoma arises from glandular cells present in the lower third of the esophagus, often where they have already transformed to intestinal cell type (a condition known as Barrett's esophagus).[2][11]

Causes of the squamous-cell type include tobacco, alcohol, very hot drinks, poor diet, and chewing betel nut.[3][4] The most common causes of the adenocarcinoma type are smoking tobacco, obesity, and acid reflux.[3]

The disease is diagnosed by biopsy done by an endoscope (a fiberoptic camera).[5] Prevention includes stopping smoking and eating a healthy diet.[1][2] Treatment is based on the cancer's stage and location, together with the person's general condition and individual preferences.[5] Small localized squamous-cell cancers may be treated with surgery alone with the hope of a cure.[5] In most other cases, chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy is used along with surgery.[5] Larger tumors may have their growth slowed with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.[2] In the presence of extensive disease or if the affected person is not fit enough to undergo surgery, palliative care is often recommended.[5]

As of 2018, esophageal cancer was the eighth-most common cancer globally with 572,000 new cases during the year. It caused about 509,000 deaths that year, up from 345,000 in 1990.[8][12] Rates vary widely among countries, with about half of all cases occurring in China.[2] It is around three times more common in men than in women.[2] Outcomes are related to the extent of the disease and other medical conditions, but generally tend to be fairly poor, as diagnosis is often late.[2][13] Five-year survival rates are around 13% to 18%.[1][6]

Signs and symptoms

Prominent symptoms usually do not appear until the cancer has infiltrated over 60% of the circumference of the esophageal tube, by which time the tumor is already in an advanced stage.[14] Onset of symptoms is usually caused by narrowing of the tube due to the physical presence of the tumor.[15]

The first and the most common symptom is usually difficulty in swallowing, which is often experienced first with solid foods and later with softer foods and liquids.[1] Pain when swallowing is less usual at first.[1] Weight loss is often an initial sign in cases of squamous-cell carcinoma, though not usually in cases of adenocarcinoma.[16] Eventual weight loss due to reduced appetite and undernutrition is common.[17] Pain behind the breastbone or in the region around the stomach often feels like heartburn. The pain can frequently be severe, worsening when food of any sort is swallowed. Another sign may be an unusually husky, raspy, or hoarse-sounding cough, a result of the tumor affecting the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

The presence of the tumor may disrupt the normal contractions of the esophagus when swallowing. This can lead to nausea and vomiting, regurgitation of food and coughing.[14] There is also an increased risk of aspiration pneumonia[14] due to food entering the airways through the abnormal connections (fistulas) that may develop between the esophagus and the trachea (windpipe).[13] Early signs of this serious complication may be coughing on drinking or eating.[18] The tumor surface may be fragile and bleed, causing vomiting of blood. Compression of local structures occurs in advanced disease, leading to such problems as upper airway obstruction and superior vena cava syndrome. Hypercalcemia (excess calcium in the blood) may occur.[14]

If the cancer has spread elsewhere, symptoms related to metastatic disease may appear. Common sites of spread include nearby lymph nodes, the liver, lungs and bone.[14] Liver metastasis can cause jaundice and abdominal swelling (ascites). Lung metastasis can cause, among other symptoms, impaired breathing due to excess fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion), and dyspnea (the feelings often associated with impaired breathing).

Causes

The two main types (i.e. squamous-cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma) have distinct sets of risk factors.[16] Squamous-cell carcinoma is linked to lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol.[19] Adenocarcinoma has been linked to effects of long-term acid reflux.[19] Tobacco is a risk factor for both types.[16] Both types are more common in people over 60 years of age.[20]

Squamous-cell carcinoma

The two major risk factors for esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma are tobacco (smoking or chewing) and alcohol.[2] The combination of tobacco and alcohol has a strong synergistic effect.[21] Some data suggest that about half of all cases are due to tobacco and about one-third to alcohol, while over three-quarters of the cases in men are due to the combination of smoking and heavy drinking.[2] Risks associated with alcohol appear to be linked to its aldehyde metabolite and to mutations in certain related enzymes.[16] Such metabolic variants are relatively common in Asia.[2]

Other relevant risk factors include regular consumption of very hot drinks (over 65 °C or 149 °F)[22][23] and ingestion of caustic substances.[2] High levels of dietary exposure to nitrosamines (chemical compounds found both in tobacco smoke and certain foodstuffs) also appear to be a relevant risk factor.[16] Unfavorable dietary patterns seem to involve exposure to nitrosamines through processed and barbecued meats, pickled vegetables, etc., and a low intake of fresh foods.[2] Other associated factors include nutritional deficiencies, low socioeconomic status, and poor oral hygiene.[16] Chewing betel nut (areca) is an important risk factor in Asia.[4]

Physical trauma may increase the risk.[24] This may include the drinking of very hot drinks.[3]

Adenocarcinoma

Esophageal cancer (lower part) as a result of Barrettʼs esophagus

Male predominance is particularly strong in this type of esophageal cancer, which occurs about 7 to 10 times more frequently in men.[25] This imbalance may be related to the characteristics and interactions of other known risk factors, including acid reflux and obesity.[25]

GERD or Gastroesophageal reflux disease

The long-term erosive effects of acid reflux (an extremely common condition, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD) have been strongly linked to this type of cancer.[26] Longstanding GERD can induce a change of cell type in the lower portion of the esophagus in response to erosion of its squamous lining.[26] This phenomenon, known as Barrett's esophagus, seems to appear about 20 years later in women than in men, possibly due to hormonal factors.[26] At a mechanistic level, in the esophagus there is a small HOXA13 expressing compartment that is more resistant to bile and acids as the normal squamous epithelium and that is prone to both intestinal differentiation as well as oncogenic transformation. Following GERD this HOXA13-expressing compartment outcompetes the normal squamous compartment, leading to the intestinal aspect of the esophagus and increased propensity to the development of esophageal cancer.[27] Having symptomatic GERD or bile reflux makes Barrett's esophagus more likely, which in turn raises the risk of further changes that can ultimately lead to adenocarcinoma.[16] Bile reflux containing unconjugated bile acids, including deoxycholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid, appears to contribute to esophageal adenocarcinoma carcinogenesis by inducing oxidative stress and DNA damage[28].The risk of developing adenocarcinoma in the presence of Barrett's esophagus is unclear, and may in the past have been overestimated.[2]

Being obese or overweight both appear to be associated with increased risk.[29] The association with obesity seems to be the strongest of any type of obesity-related cancer, though the reasons for this remain unclear.[30] Abdominal obesity seems to be of particular relevance, given the closeness of its association with this type of cancer, as well as with both GERD and Barrett's esophagus.[30] This type of obesity is characteristic of men.[30] Physiologically, it stimulates GERD and also has other chronic inflammatory effects.[26]

Helicobacter pylori infection (a common occurrence thought to have affected over half of the world's population) is not a risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma and actually appears to be protective. Despite being a cause of GERD and a risk factor for gastric cancer, the infection seems to be associated with a reduced risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma of as much as 50%.[31][32] The biological explanation for a protective effect is somewhat unclear.[32] One explanation is that some strains of H. pylori reduce stomach acid, thereby reducing damage by GERD.[33] Decreasing rates of H. pylori infection in Western populations over recent decades, which have been linked to less overcrowding in households, could be a factor in the concurrent increase in esophageal adenocarcinoma.[31]

Female hormones may also have a protective effect, as EAC is not only much less common in women but develops later in life, by an average of 20 years. Although studies of many reproductive factors have not produced a clear picture, risk seems to decline for the mother in line with prolonged periods of breastfeeding.[31]

Tobacco smoking increases risk, but the effect in esophageal adenocarcinoma is slight compared to that in squamous cell carcinoma, and alcohol has not been demonstrated to be a cause.[31]

Related conditions

  • Head and neck cancer is associated with second primary tumors in the region, including esophageal squamous-cell carcinomas, due to field cancerization (i.e. a regional reaction to long-term carcinogenic exposure).[34][35]
  • History of radiation therapy for other conditions in the chest is a risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma.[16]
  • Corrosive injury to the esophagus by accidentally or intentionally swallowing caustic substances is a risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma.[2]
  • Tylosis with esophageal cancer is a rare familial disease with autosomal dominant inheritance that has been linked to a mutation in the RHBDF2 gene, present on chromosome 17: it involves thickening of the skin of the palms and soles and a high lifetime risk of squamous cell carcinoma.[2][36]
  • Achalasia (i.e. lack of the involuntary reflex in the esophagus after swallowing) appears to be a risk factor for both main types of esophageal cancer, at least in men, due to stagnation of trapped food and drink.[37]
  • Plummer–Vinson syndrome (a rare disease that involves esophageal webs) is also a risk factor.[2]
  • There is some evidence suggesting a possible causal association between human papillomavirus (HPV) and esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma.[38] The relationship is unclear.[39] Possible relevance of HPV could be greater in places that have a particularly high incidence of this form of the disease,[40] as in some Asian countries, including China.[41]
  • There is an association between celiac disease and esophageal cancer. People with untreated celiac disease have a higher risk, but this risk decreases with time after diagnosis, probably due to the adoption of a gluten-free diet, which seems to have a protective role against development of malignancy in people with celiac disease. However, the delay in diagnosis and initiation of a gluten-free diet seems to increase the risk of malignancy. Moreover, in some cases the detection of celiac disease is due to the development of cancer, whose early symptoms are similar to some that may appear in celiac disease.[42]

Diagnosis

Esophageal cancer as shown by a filling defect during an upper GI series

Clinical evaluation

Although an occlusive tumor may be suspected on a barium swallow or barium meal, the diagnosis is best made with an examination using an endoscope. This involves the passing of a flexible tube with a light and camera down the esophagus and examining the wall, and is called an esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Biopsies taken of suspicious lesions are then examined histologically for signs of malignancy.

Additional testing is needed to assess how much the cancer has spread (see § Staging, below). Computed tomography (CT) of the chest, abdomen and pelvis can evaluate whether the cancer has spread to adjacent tissues or distant organs (especially liver and lymph nodes). The sensitivity of a CT scan is limited by its ability to detect masses (e.g. enlarged lymph nodes or involved organs) generally larger than 1 cm.[43][44] Positron emission tomography is also used to estimate the extent of the disease and is regarded as more precise than CT alone.[45] PET/MR as a novel modality has shown promising results in preoperative staging with fair feasibility and good correlation in comparison to PET/CT. It can enhance tissue differentiation with lowering the radiation dose to the patient.[46] Esophageal endoscopic ultrasound can provide staging information regarding the level of tumor invasion, and possible spread to regional lymph nodes.

The location of the tumor is generally measured by the distance from the teeth. The esophagus (25 cm or 10 in long) is commonly divided into three parts for purposes of determining the location. Adenocarcinomas tend to occur nearer the stomach and squamous cell carcinomas nearer the throat, but either may arise anywhere in the esophagus.

  • Endoscopic image of Barrett esophagus – a frequent precursor of esophageal adenocarcinoma

  • Endoscopy and radial endoscopic ultrasound images of a submucosal tumor in the central portion of the esophagus

  • Contrast CT scan showing an esophageal tumor (axial view)

  • Contrast CT scan showing an esophageal tumor (coronal view)

  • Esophageal cancer

  • Micrograph showing histopathological appearance of an esophageal adenocarcinoma (dark blue – upper-left of image) and normal squamous epithelium (upper-right of image) at H&E staining

Types

Esophageal cancers are typically carcinomas that arise from the epithelium, or surface lining, of the esophagus. Most esophageal cancers fall into one of two classes: esophageal squamous-cell carcinomas (ESCC), which are similar to head and neck cancer in their appearance and association with tobacco and alcohol consumption—and esophageal adenocarcinomas (EAC), which are often associated with a history of GERD and Barrett's esophagus. A rule of thumb is that a cancer in the upper two-thirds is likely to be ESCC and one in the lower one-third EAC.

Rare histologic types of esophageal cancer include different variants of squamous-cell carcinoma, and non-epithelial tumors, such as leiomyosarcoma, malignant melanoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and lymphoma, among others.[47][48]

Staging

Staging is based on the TNM staging system, which classifies the amount of tumor invasion (T), involvement of lymph nodes (N), and distant metastasis (M).[16] The currently preferred classification is the 2010 AJCC staging system for cancer of the esophagus and the esophagogastric junction.[16] To help guide clinical decision making, this system also incorporates information on cell type (ESCC, EAC, etc.), grade (degree of differentiation – an indication of the biological aggressiveness of the cancer cells), and tumor location (upper, middle, lower, or junctional[49]).[50]

  • T1, T2, and T3 stages of esophageal cancer

  • Stage T4 esophageal cancer

  • Esophageal cancer with spread to lymph nodes

Prevention

Prevention includes stopping smoking or chewing tobacco.[2] Overcoming addiction to areca chewing in Asia is another promising strategy for the prevention of esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma.[4] The risk can also be reduced by maintaining a normal body weight.[51] According to a 2022 umbrella review, calcium intake could be associated with lower risk.[52]

According to the National Cancer Institute, "diets high in cruciferous (cabbage, broccoli/broccolini, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts) and green and yellow vegetables and fruits are associated with a decreased risk of esophageal cancer."[53] Dietary fiber is thought to be protective, especially against esophageal adenocarcinoma.[54] There is no evidence that vitamin supplements change the risk.[1]

Screening

People with Barrett's esophagus (a change in the cells lining the lower esophagus) are at much higher risk,[55] and may receive regular endoscopic screening for the early signs of cancer.[56] Because the benefit of screening for adenocarcinoma in people without symptoms is unclear,[2] it is not recommended in the United States.[1] Some areas of the world with high rates of squamous-carcinoma have screening programs.[2]

Management

Esophageal stent for esophageal cancer
Esophageal stent for esophageal cancer
Before and after a total esophagectomy
Typical scar lines after the two main methods of surgery

Treatment is best managed by a multidisciplinary team covering the various specialties involved.[57][58] Adequate nutrition must be assured, and appropriate dental care is essential. Factors that influence treatment decisions include the stage and cellular type of cancer (EAC, ESCC, and other types), along with the person's general condition and any other diseases that are present.[16]

In general, treatment with a curative intention is restricted to localized disease, without distant metastasis: in such cases a combined approach that includes surgery may be considered. Disease that is widespread, metastatic or recurrent is managed palliatively: in this case, chemotherapy may be used to lengthen survival, while treatments such as radiotherapy or stenting may be used to relieve symptoms and make it easier to swallow.[16]

Surgery

Further information: Medicine:Esophagectomy

If the cancer has been diagnosed while still in an early stage, surgical treatment with a curative intention may be possible. Some small tumors that only involve the mucosa or lining of the esophagus may be removed by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR).[59][60] Otherwise, curative surgery of early-stage lesions may entail removal of all or part of the esophagus (esophagectomy), although this is a difficult operation with a relatively high risk of mortality or post-operative difficulties. The benefits of surgery are less clear in early-stage ESCC than EAC. There are a number of surgical options, and the best choices for particular situations remain the subject of research and discussion.[57][61][62] As well as characteristics and location of the tumor, other factors include the patient's condition, and the type of operation the surgical team is most experienced with.

The likely quality of life after treatment is a relevant factor when considering surgery.[63] Surgical outcomes are likely better in large centers where the procedures are frequently performed.[61] If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, esophagectomy is nowadays not normally performed.[61][64]

Esophagectomy is the removal of a segment of the esophagus; as this shortens the length of the remaining esophagus, some other segment of the digestive tract is pulled up through the chest cavity and interposed. This is usually the stomach or part of the large intestine (colon) or jejunum. Reconnection of the stomach to a shortened esophagus is called an esophagogastric anastomosis.[61]

Esophagectomy can be performed using several methods. The choice of the surgical approach depends on the characteristics and location of the tumor, and the preference of the surgeon. Clear evidence from clinical trials for which approaches give the best outcomes in different circumstances is lacking.[61] A first decision, regarding the point of entry, is between a transhiatial and a transthoracic procedure. The more recent transhiatial approach avoids the need to open the chest; instead the surgeon enters the body through an incision in the lower abdomen and another in the neck. The lower part of the esophagus is freed from the surrounding tissues and cut away as necessary. The stomach is then pushed through the esophageal hiatus (the hole where the esophagus passes through the diaphragm) and is joined to the remaining upper part of the esophagus at the neck.[61]

The traditional transthoracic approach enters the body through the chest, and has a number of variations. The thoracoabdominal approach opens the abdominal and thoracic cavities together, the two-stage Ivor Lewis (also called Lewis–Tanner) approach involves an initial laparotomy and construction of a gastric tube, followed by a right thoracotomy to excise the tumor and create an esophagogastric anastomosis. The three-stage McKeown approach adds a third incision in the neck to complete the cervical anastomosis. Recent approaches by some surgeons use what is called extended esophagectomy, where more surrounding tissue, including lymph nodes, is removed en bloc.[61]

If the person cannot swallow at all, an esophageal stent may be inserted to keep the esophagus open; stents may also assist in occluding fistulas. A nasogastric tube may be necessary to continue feeding while treatment for the tumor is given, and some patients require a gastrostomy (feeding hole in the skin that gives direct access to the stomach). The latter two are especially important if the patient tends to aspirate food or saliva into the airways, predisposing for aspiration pneumonia.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy

Chemotherapy depends on the tumor type, but tends to be cisplatin-based (or carboplatin or oxaliplatin) every three weeks with fluorouracil (5-FU) either continuously or every three weeks. In more recent studies, addition of epirubicin was better[clarification needed] than other comparable regimens in advanced nonresectable cancer.[65] Chemotherapy may be given after surgery (adjuvant, i.e. to reduce risk of recurrence), before surgery (neoadjuvant) or if surgery is not possible; in this case, cisplatin and 5-FU are used. Ongoing trials compare various combinations of chemotherapy; the phase II/III REAL-2 trial – for example – compares four regimens containing epirubicin and either cisplatin or oxaliplatin, and either continuously infused fluorouracil or capecitabine.

Radiotherapy is given before, during, or after chemotherapy or surgery, and sometimes on its own to control symptoms. In patients with localised disease but contraindications to surgery, "radical radiotherapy" may be used with curative intent.

Other approaches

Forms of endoscopic therapy have been used for stage 0 and I disease: endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)[66] and mucosal ablation using radiofrequency ablation, photodynamic therapy, Nd-YAG laser, or argon plasma coagulation.

Laser therapy is the use of high-intensity light to destroy tumor cells while affecting only the treated area. This is typically done if the cancer cannot be removed by surgery. The relief of a blockage can help with pain and difficulty swallowing. Photodynamic therapy, a type of laser therapy, involves the use of drugs that are absorbed by cancer cells; when exposed to a special light, the drugs become active and destroy the cancer cells.

Follow-up

Patients are followed closely after a treatment regimen has been completed. Frequently, other treatments are used to improve symptoms and maximize nutrition.

Prognosis

In general, the prognosis of esophageal cancer is quite poor, because most patients present with advanced disease. By the time the first symptoms (such as difficulty swallowing) appear, the disease has already progressed. The overall five-year survival rate (5YSR) in the United States is around 15%, with most people dying within the first year of diagnosis.[67] The latest survival data for England and Wales (patients diagnosed during 2007) show that only one in ten people survives esophageal cancer for at least ten years.[68]

Individualized prognosis depends largely on stage. Those with cancer restricted entirely to the esophageal mucosa have about an 80% 5YSR, but submucosal involvement brings this down to less than 50%. Extension into the muscularis propria (muscle layer of the esophagus) suggests a 20% 5YSR, and extension to the structures adjacent to the esophagus predict a 7% 5YSR. Patients with distant metastases (who are not candidates for curative surgery) have a less than 3% 5YSR.[69]

Epidemiology

Death from esophageal cancer per million persons in 2012
  0-4
  5-6
  7-10
  11-15
  16-26
  27-36
  37-45
  46-59
  60-75
  76-142

Esophageal cancer is the eighth-most frequently-diagnosed cancer worldwide,[2] and because of its poor prognosis, it is the sixth most-common cause of cancer-related deaths.[55] It caused about 400,000 deaths in 2012, accounting for about 5% of all cancer deaths (about 456,000 new cases were diagnosed, representing about 3% of all cancers).[2]

ESCC (esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma) comprises 60–70% of all cases of esophageal cancer worldwide, while EAC (esophageal adenocarcinoma) accounts for a further 20–30% (melanomas, leiomyosarcomas, carcinoids and lymphomas are less common types).[70] The incidence of the two main types of esophageal cancer varies greatly between different geographical areas.[71] In general, ESCC is more common in the developing world, and EAC is more common in the developed world.[2]

The worldwide incidence rate of ESCC in 2012 was 5.2 new cases per 100,000 person-years, with a male predominance (7.7 per 100,000 in men vs. 2.8 in women).[72] It was the common type in 90% of the countries studied.[72] ESCC is particularly frequent in the so-called "Asian esophageal cancer belt", an area that passes through northern China, southern Russia , north-eastern Iran, northern Afghanistan and eastern Turkey.[70] In 2012, about 80% of ESCC cases worldwide occurred in central and south-eastern Asia, and over half (53%) of all cases were in China.[72] The countries with the highest estimated national incidence rates were (in Asia) Mongolia and Turkmenistan and (in Africa) Malawi, Kenya and Uganda.[72] The problem of esophageal cancer has long been recognized in the eastern and southern parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, where ESCC appears to predominate.[73]

In Western countries, EAC has become the dominant form of the disease, following an increase in incidence over recent decades (in contrast to the incidence of ESCC, which has remained largely stable).[5][31] In 2012, the global incidence rate for EAC was 0.7 per 100,000 with a strong male predominance (1.1 per 100,000 in men vs. 0.3 in women). Areas with particularly high incidence rates include northern and western Europe, North America and Oceania. The countries with highest recorded rates were the UK, Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and New Zealand.[72]

United States

In the United States, esophageal cancer is the seventh-leading cause of cancer-related deaths among males (making up 4% of the total).[74] The National Cancer Institute estimated that there were about 18,000 new cases and more than 15,000 deaths from esophageal cancer in 2013; the American Cancer Society estimated that during 2014, about 18,170 new esophageal cancer cases would be diagnosed, resulting in 15,450 deaths.[71][74]

The squamous-cell carcinoma type is more common among African American males with a history of heavy smoking or alcohol use. Until the 1970s, squamous-cell carcinoma accounted for the vast majority of esophageal cancers in the United States. In recent decades, incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (which is associated with Barrett's esophagus) steadily rose in the United States to the point that it has now surpassed squamous-cell carcinoma. In contrast to squamous-cell carcinoma, esophageal adenocarcinoma is more common in white American men (over the age of 60) than it is in African Americans. Multiple reports indicate esophageal adenocarcinoma incidence has increased during the past 20 years, especially in non-Hispanic white men. Esophageal adenocarcinoma age-adjusted incidence increased in New Mexico from 1973 to 2002. This increase was found in non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics and became predominant in non-Hispanic whites.[75] Esophageal cancer incidence and mortality rates for African Americans continue to be higher than the rate for Causasians. However, incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer has significantly decreased among African Americans since the early 1980s, whereas with whites it has continued to increase.[76] Between 1975 and 2004, incidence of the adenocarcinoma type increased among white American males by over 460% and among white American females by 335%.[71]

United Kingdom

The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma has risen considerably in the UK in recent decades.[16] Overall, esophageal cancer is the thirteenth most common cancer in the UK (around 8,300 people were diagnosed with the disease in 2011), and it is the sixth most common cause of cancer death (around 7,700 people died in 2012).[77]

Society and culture

Notable cases

Humphrey Bogart, actor, died of esophageal cancer in 1957, aged 57.

Billy Strayhorn, American jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger, who collaborated with bandleader and composer Duke Ellington, died of esophageal cancer in 1967 at age 51.

Actor John Thaw died of esophageal cancer in 2002, at the age of 60.

Christopher Hitchens, author and journalist, died of esophageal cancer in 2011, aged 62.[78]

Morrissey in October 2015 stated he has the disease and has described his experience when he first heard he had it.[79]

Mako Iwamatsu, voice actor for Avatar: The Last Airbender as General Iroh and Samurai Jack as Aku, died of esophageal cancer in 2006, aged 72.

Robert Kardashian, attorney and businessman, died of esophageal cancer in 2003, aged 59.

Traci Braxton, singer and reality TV star, died of esophageal cancer in 2022, aged 50.

Andrew Bonar Law resigned as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1923 and died of throat cancer shortly after aged 65.

Ed Sullivan, host of the prominent self-titled television program The Ed Sullivan Show, died of esophageal cancer in 1974 at the age of 73

Research directions

The risk of esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma may be reduced in people using aspirin or related NSAIDs,[80] but in the absence of randomized controlled trials the current evidence is inconclusive.[2][31]

The genomics of esophageal adenocarcinoma is being studied using Cancer genome sequencing. Esophageal adenocarcinoma is characterized by complex tumor genomes [81][82] with heterogeneity within the tumor micro-environment.[82]

See also

  • Esophagogastric junctional adenocarcinoma

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 "Tumors". Ferri's clinical advisor 2013. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby (Elsevier). 2012. pp. 389–391. ISBN 978-0323083737. https://books.google.com/books?id=OR3VERnvzzEC&pg=PA391. 
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 "Oesophageal Cancer". World Cancer Report 2014. World Health Organization. 2014. pp. 528–543. ISBN 978-9283204299. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Epidemiologic differences in esophageal cancer between Asian and Western populations". Chinese Journal of Cancer 31 (6): 281–286. June 2012. doi:10.5732/cjc.011.10390. PMID 22507220. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Areca nut chewing and esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma risk in Asians: a meta-analysis of case-control studies". Cancer Causes & Control 24 (2): 257–265. February 2013. doi:10.1007/s10552-012-0113-9. PMID 23224324. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 "Oesophageal cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up". Annals of Oncology 24 (Suppl 6): vi51–vi56. October 2013. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdt342. PMID 24078662. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Esophageal Cancer". http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/esoph.html. 
  7. ↑ "Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 310 diseases and injuries, 1990-2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015". Lancet 388 (10053): 1545–1602. October 2016. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31678-6. PMID 27733282. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Esophageal Cancer Factsheet". http://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/cancers/6-Oesophagus-fact-sheet.pdf. 
  9. ↑ Even by those using the British English spelling "oesophagus"
  10. ↑ Gastrointestinal oncology: principles and practices (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2007. p. 4. ISBN 9780781776172. https://books.google.com/books?id=5ULRpwtyxxMC&pg=PA4. 
  11. ↑ Cancer epidemiology and prevention (3rd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2006. p. 697. ISBN 9780199747979. https://books.google.com/books?id=qfN8Y1_lbDYC&pg=PA697. 
  12. ↑ "Global and regional mortality from 235 causes of death for 20 age groups in 1990 and 2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010". Lancet 380 (9859): 2095–2128. December 2012. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61728-0. PMID 23245604. https://zenodo.org/record/2557786. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Esophageal cancer". The New England Journal of Medicine 349 (23): 2241–2252. December 2003. doi:10.1056/NEJMra035010. PMID 14657432. http://gastro.ucsd.edu/fellowship/materials/Documents/Esophageal%20Cancer/NEJM%202003%20Esophageal%20CA%20.pdf. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 "Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer". Harrison's principles of internal medicine. 1 (18th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Medical Publishing Division. 2008. pp. 764–5. ISBN 978-0071748896. 
  15. ↑ Oxford American Handbook of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Oxford University Press. 2011. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-19-983012-1. https://archive.org/details/oxfordamericanha00adam. 
  16. ↑ 16.00 16.01 16.02 16.03 16.04 16.05 16.06 16.07 16.08 16.09 16.10 16.11 16.12 "Oesophageal carcinoma". Lancet 381 (9864): 400–412. February 2013. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60643-6. PMID 23374478. 
  17. ↑ Textbook of Gastroenterology. John Wiley & Sons. 2011. pp. 1590–1. ISBN 978-1-4443-5941-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=69Ttbl6ewp8C&pg=PT1590. 
  18. ↑ "Palliation of Esophageal Cancer". Cancer of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract. PMPH-USA. 2002. p. 184. ISBN 978-1-55009-101-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=h0NQECKu7Y4C&pg=PA184. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Genetic predisposition to gastro-oesophageal cancer". Current Opinion in Genetics & Development 20 (3): 210–217. June 2010. doi:10.1016/j.gde.2010.03.002. PMID 20347291. 
  20. ↑ Cancer and its management (6th ed.). John Wiley & Sons. 2013. p. 254. ISBN 978-1-11871-325-9. 
  21. ↑ "The synergistic effects of alcohol and tobacco consumption on the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis". The American Journal of Gastroenterology 109 (6): 822–827. June 2014. doi:10.1038/ajg.2014.71. PMID 24751582. 
  22. ↑ "Carcinogenicity of drinking coffee, mate, and very hot beverages". The Lancet. Oncology 17 (7): 877–878. July 2016. doi:10.1016/s1470-2045(16)30239-x. PMID 27318851. http://www.smeo.org.mx/images/sliders/slider-secundario/articulo-1.pdf. Retrieved 2016-10-03. 
  23. ↑ "Q&A on Monographs Volume 116: Coffee, maté, and very hot beverages". IARC / WHO. https://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/iarcnews/pdf/Monographs-Q&A_Vol116.pdf. 
  24. ↑ Esophageal cancer principles and practice. New York: Demos Medical. 2009. p. 93. ISBN 9781935281177. https://books.google.com/books?id=itAJFMYDmXkC&pg=PA93. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Oesophageal adenocarcinoma: the new epidemic in men?". Maturitas 69 (3): 244–248. July 2011. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2011.04.003. PMID 21602001. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 "Barrett's oesophagus: epidemiology, cancer risk and implications for management". Gut 63 (1): 191–202. January 2014. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2013-305490. PMID 24092861. 
  27. ↑ "HOXA13 in etiology and oncogenic potential of Barrett's esophagus". Nature Communications 12 (1): 3354. June 2021. doi:10.1038/s41467-021-23641-8. PMID 34099670. Bibcode: 2021NatCo..12.3354J. 
  28. ↑ "The role of bile acids in carcinogenesis". Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 79 (5): 243. April 2022. doi:10.1007/s00018-022-04278-2. PMID 35429253. 
  29. ↑ "A meta-analysis of body mass index and esophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma". Annals of Oncology 24 (3): 609–617. March 2013. doi:10.1093/annonc/mds244. PMID 22898040. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 "Influence of obesity on the risk of esophageal disorders". Nature Reviews. Gastroenterology & Hepatology 8 (6): 340–347. June 2011. doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2011.73. PMID 21643038. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 31.5 "Recent developments in esophageal adenocarcinoma". CA 63 (4): 232–248. 2013. doi:10.3322/caac.21185. PMID 23818335. 
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Risk factors for esophageal cancer development". Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America 18 (3): 469–485. July 2009. doi:10.1016/j.soc.2009.03.005. PMID 19500737. http://download.bioon.com.cn/view/upload/month_0909/20090928_4507e142d23b50c17541YoA0Fk4TUkOB.attach.pdf. 
  33. ↑ "Epidemiology of Esophageal Cancer". Epidemiology of Chronic Disease: Global Perspectives. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. 2013. pp. 157–161. ISBN 978-0-7637-8047-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=KJLEIvX4wzoC&pg=PA159. 
  34. ↑ "Second primary tumors in patients with head and neck cancer". Current Oncology Reports 13 (2): 132–137. April 2011. doi:10.1007/s11912-010-0147-7. PMID 21234721. 
  35. ↑ "[Coincidental squamous cell cancers of the esophagus, head, and neck: risk and screening]" (in de). Hno 56 (6): 603–608. June 2008. doi:10.1007/s00106-007-1616-7. PMID 17928979. 
  36. ↑ "Tylosis with esophageal cancer". Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) – NIH. 18 January 2013. http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/gard/3102/tylosis-with-esophageal-cancer/resources/1. 
  37. ↑ "Esophageal Cancer". Textbook of Cancer Epidemiology. 1. Oxford University Press. 2008. p. 224. ISBN 978-0-19-531117-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=kuvMDqQuKEUC&pg=PA224. 
  38. ↑ "The aetiological role of human papillomavirus in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis". PLOS ONE 8 (7): e69238. 2013. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0069238. PMID 23894436. Bibcode: 2013PLoSO...869238L. 
  39. ↑ "InterSCOPE study: Associations between esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and human papillomavirus serological markers". Journal of the National Cancer Institute 104 (2): 147–158. January 2012. doi:10.1093/jnci/djr499. PMID 22228147. 
  40. ↑ "Geographic origin is a significant determinant of human papillomavirus prevalence in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: systematic review and meta-analysis". Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 45 (1): 1–18. January 2013. doi:10.3109/00365548.2012.702281. PMID 22830571. 
  41. ↑ "Association between human papillomavirus (HPV) and oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis". Epidemiology and Infection 142 (6): 1119–1137. June 2014. doi:10.1017/S0950268814000016. PMID 24721187. 
  42. ↑ "Association Between Coeliac Disease and Risk of Any Malignancy and Gastrointestinal Malignancy: A Meta-Analysis". Medicine 94 (38): e1612. September 2015. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000001612. PMID 26402826. 
  43. ↑ "Diagnostic accuracy of CT scan in staging resectable esophageal cancer". JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association 66 (1): 90–92. January 2016. PMID 26712189. 
  44. ↑ "Multimodality assessment of esophageal cancer: preoperative staging and monitoring of response to therapy". Radiographics 29 (2): 403–421. 2009. doi:10.1148/rg.292085106. PMID 19325056. 
  45. ↑ "PET/CT of esophageal cancer: its role in clinical management". Radiographics 27 (6): 1635–1652. November 2007. doi:10.1148/rg.276065742. PMID 18025508. 
  46. ↑ "18F-FDG-PET/MRI in preoperative staging of oesophageal and gastroesophageal junctional cancer". Clinical Radiology 74 (9): 718–725. September 2019. doi:10.1016/j.crad.2019.05.016. PMID 31221468. 
  47. ↑ General Thoracic Surgery. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2009. pp. 2047–. ISBN 978-0-7817-7982-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=bVEEHmpU-1wC&pg=PA2047. 
  48. ↑ Perez and Brady's Principles and Practice of Radiation Oncology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2008. pp. 1137–. ISBN 978-0-7817-6369-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=NyeE6-aKnSYC&pg=PA1137. 
  49. ↑ Cancer arising at the junction between the esophagus and stomach is often classified as stomach cancer, as in ICD-10. See: "C16 - Malignant neoplasm of the stomach". World Health Organization. http://apps.who.int/classifications/icd10/browse/2015/en#/C16. 
  50. ↑ "A cancer staging primer: esophagus and esophagogastric junction". The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 139 (3): 527–529. March 2010. doi:10.1016/j.jtcvs.2009.11.002. PMID 20176201. 
  51. ↑ "Body Fatness and Cancer--Viewpoint of the IARC Working Group". The New England Journal of Medicine 375 (8): 794–798. August 2016. doi:10.1056/NEJMsr1606602. PMID 27557308. 
  52. ↑ "Diet and Esophageal Cancer Risk: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies". Advances in Nutrition 13 (6): 2207–2216. December 2022. doi:10.1093/advances/nmac087. PMID 36041184. 
  53. ↑ "Diet and oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal cancer". Nutrition and Cancer 44 (2): 104–126. 2002. doi:10.1207/S15327914NC4402_01. PMID 12734057. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/esophageal/healthprofessional#Section_57. 
  54. ↑ "Dietary fiber and the risk of precancerous lesions and cancer of the esophagus: a systematic review and meta-analysis". Nutrition Reviews 71 (7): 474–482. July 2013. doi:10.1111/nure.12032. PMID 23815145. 
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 "Epidemiology of esophageal cancer". World Journal of Gastroenterology 19 (34): 5598–5606. September 2013. doi:10.3748/wjg.v19.i34.5598. PMID 24039351. 
  56. ↑ "Controversies in Barrett esophagus". Mayo Clinic Proceedings 89 (7): 973–984. July 2014. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2014.01.022. PMID 24867396. 
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 Cancer and its Management (6th ed.). John Wiley & Sons. 2010. p. 257. ISBN 978-1118713259. 
  58. ↑ Berry 2014, p. S292
  59. ↑ "Endoscopic submucosal dissection". Endoscopy 46 (4): 361–370. April 2014. doi:10.1055/s-0034-1364921. PMID 24671864. 
  60. ↑ "Efficacy and complication of endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial esophageal carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis". Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery 9: 78. May 2014. doi:10.1186/1749-8090-9-78. PMID 24885614. 
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 61.2 61.3 61.4 61.5 61.6 "Ch Chapter 72: Treatment of head and neck cancer". DeVita, Hellman, and Rosenberg's Cancer: Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology (9th ed.). Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2011. pp. 729–780. ISBN 978-1-4511-0545-2.  Online edition, with updates to 2014
  62. ↑ "Esophageal cancer: staging system and guidelines for staging and treatment". Journal of Thoracic Disease 6 (Suppl 3): S289–S297. May 2014. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2014.03.11. PMID 24876933. 
  63. ↑ "The role of health-related quality of life outcomes in clinical decision making in surgery for esophageal cancer: a systematic review". Annals of Surgical Oncology 15 (9): 2372–2379. September 2008. doi:10.1245/s10434-008-0042-8. PMID 18626719. 
  64. ↑ Berry 2014, p. S293
  65. ↑ "Prospective randomized trial comparing mitomycin, cisplatin, and protracted venous-infusion fluorouracil (PVI 5-FU) With epirubicin, cisplatin, and PVI 5-FU in advanced esophagogastric cancer". Journal of Clinical Oncology 20 (8): 1996–2004. April 2002. doi:10.1200/JCO.2002.08.105. PMID 11956258. 
  66. ↑ "Endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection in esophageal and gastric cancers". Current Opinion in Gastroenterology 26 (5): 453–458. September 2010. doi:10.1097/MOG.0b013e32833e4712. PMID 20703112. 
  67. ↑ "Trends in survival for both histologic types of esophageal cancer in US surveillance, epidemiology and end results areas". International Journal of Cancer 105 (1): 98–100. May 2003. doi:10.1002/ijc.11029. PMID 12672037. 
  68. ↑ "Oesophageal cancer survival statistics". 2015-05-15. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/types/oesophagus/survival/. 
  69. ↑ "Esophageal Cancer Treatment | How We Treat Esophageal Cancer | KAIZEN Hospital". https://www.kaizenhospital.com/patients-awareness/esophagus/cancer-esophagus/. 
  70. ↑ 70.0 70.1 "Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer: an overview". International Journal of Oncology 41 (2): 414–424. August 2012. doi:10.3892/ijo.2012.1481. PMID 22615011. http://www.spandidos-publications.com/ijo/41/2/414. 
  71. ↑ 71.0 71.1 71.2 "Esophageal cancer: A Review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, staging workup and treatment modalities". World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology 6 (5): 112–120. May 2014. doi:10.4251/wjgo.v6.i5.112. PMID 24834141. 
  72. ↑ 72.0 72.1 72.2 72.3 72.4 "Global incidence of oesophageal cancer by histological subtype in 2012". Gut 64 (3): 381–387. March 2015. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2014-308124. PMID 25320104. 
  73. ↑ "Systematic review: epidemiology of oesophageal cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa". Malawi Medical Journal 22 (3): 65–70. September 2010. doi:10.4314/mmj.v22i3.62190. PMID 21977849. 
  74. ↑ 74.0 74.1 "Cancer Facts and Figures 2014". American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@research/documents/webcontent/acspc-042151.pdf. 
  75. ↑ "Changing pattern of esophageal cancer incidence in New Mexico: a 30-year evaluation". Digestive Diseases and Sciences 55 (6): 1622–1626. June 2010. doi:10.1007/s10620-009-0918-x. PMID 19688596. 
  76. ↑ "Incidence and Mortality Rate Trends". A Snapshot of Esophageal Cancer. National Cancer Institute. September 2006. http://planning.cancer.gov/disease/Esophageal-Snapshot.pdf. 
  77. ↑ "Oesophageal cancer statistics". 2015-05-14. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/types/oesophagus/. 
  78. ↑ "Christopher Hitchens' widow on his death: "God never came up"". 7 September 2012. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/christopher-hitchens-widow-on-his-death-god-never-came-up/. 
  79. ↑ "Morrissey Talks Trump, Cancer Diagnosis, TSA Groping With Larry King". Rolling Stone. 2015-08-19. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/morrissey-talks-trump-cancer-diagnosis-tsa-groping-with-larry-king-20150819#ixzz3r8ua2mIf. Retrieved 11 November 2015. 
  80. ↑ "Meta-analysis: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma". Diseases of the Esophagus 24 (8): 544–549. November 2011. doi:10.1111/j.1442-2050.2011.01198.x. PMID 21539676. 
  81. ↑ "The landscape of selection in 551 esophageal adenocarcinomas defines genomic biomarkers for the clinic". Nature Genetics 51 (3): 506–516. March 2019. doi:10.1038/s41588-018-0331-5. PMID 30718927. 
  82. ↑ 82.0 82.1 "Multi-omic features of oesophageal adenocarcinoma in patients treated with preoperative neoadjuvant therapy". Nature Communications 14 (1): 3155. May 2023. doi:10.1038/s41467-023-38891-x. PMID 37258531. Bibcode: 2023NatCo..14.3155M. 

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