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Cancer from A to Z

Types of cancer, how to prevent them, diagnosis and treatment.

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Esophageal Cancer

Types of Esophageal Cancer
Squamous cell carcinoma occurs in the cells lining the esophagus. This type of esophageal cancer is more common in black people.

Adenocarcinoma occurs in glandular tissue, most often in the lower part of the esophagus near the stomach. It is the most common type of esophageal cancer. Adenocarcinomas are more common among Caucasians.

Esophageal cancer symptoms of  are often not evident during its early stages. Even though symptoms may not mean cancer, people should consider contacting a doctor when experiencing the following symptoms:

  • Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
  • Pain, pressure or burning in the throat or chest
  • Weight loss
  • Vomiting
  • Hoarseness
  • Persistent hiccups
  • Chronic cough
Departments
News
Events
2nd MD Anderson International Meeting in Gastrointestinal Oncology
Current practice and controversies in the era of personalized medicine.
Teaching
Clinical trials
Sym015(Anti-MET) en Pacientes con tumor solido avanzado.
Ensayo de fase 1a/2a, abierto y multicéntrico, para investigar la seguridad, tolerabilidad y actividad antitumoral de dosis repetidas de Sym015, una mezcla de anticuerpos monoclonales dirigida frente al receptor MET, en pacientes con tumores malignos sólidos en fase avanzada
Regeneron para multipatología
PRIMER ESTUDIO EN EL SER HUMANO DE LA ADMINISTRACIÓN REPETIDA DE REGN2810, UN ANTICUERPO MONOCLONAL, TOTALMENTE HUMANO FRENTE A LA PROTEÍNA DE MUERTE CELULAR PROGRAMADA 1 (PD-1), EN MONOTERAPIA Y EN COMBINACIÓN CON OTROS TRATAMIENTOS ANTINEOPLÁSICOS, EN PACIENTES CON TUMORES MALIGNOS AVANZADOS
DU176b-D-U311
Estudio fase IIIB, prospectivo, randomizado, abierto que evalúa la eficacia y seguridad de Heparina/Edoxaban versus Dalteparina en tromboembolismo venoso asociado con cáncer.
Ensayo de interrupción anticipada abierto, multicéntrico, prueba de estudio conceptual con tasquinimod en el tratamiento de pacientes con carcinomas hepatocelulares, ováricos, de células renales y gástricos en estado avanzado o metastásico
Ensayo de interrupción anticipada abierto, multicéntrico, prueba de estudio conceptual con tasquinimod en el tratamiento de pacientes con carcinomas hepatocelulares, ováricos, de células renales y gástricos en estado avanzado o metastásico
Estudio fase III, multicéntrico, aleatorizado, doble ciego, con control activo para evaluar la seguridad y eficacia de Rolapitant en la prevención de náuseas y vómitos por la quimioterapia (NVIQ) en pacientes que reciben quimioterapia altamente emética
Tumores sólidos. Antiemesis Estudio fase III, multicéntrico, aleatorizado, doble ciego, con control activo para evaluar la seguridad y eficacia de Rolapitant en la prevención de náuseas y vómitos por la quimioterapia (NVIQ) en pacientes que reciben quimioterapia altamente emética (QAE). A phase III, multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study of the safety and efficacy of Rolapitant for the treatment of Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in subjects receiving highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy (HEC)
Ensayo clínico en fase I de determinación de dosis del antiangiogénico multidiana Dovitinib (TKI258) más paclitaxel en pacientes con tumores sólidos
Ensayo clínico en fase I de determinación de dosis del antiangiogénico multidiana Dovitinib (TKI258) más paclitaxel en pacientes con tumores sólidos.
  • Long-term history of smoking
  • Consumption of alcohol, especially when combined with smoking
  • Barrett's Esophagus: a condition in which chronic acid reflux causes changes in the cells lining the lower esophagus, increasing the risk of adenocarcinoma
  • Achalasia: a disease in which the esophagus fails to move food into the stomach properly
  • Tylosis: a rare, inherited disorder that causes excess skin to grow on the soles of the feet and palms and has a near 100% chance of developing into esophageal cancer
  • Esophageal webs: flaps of tissue that protrude into the esophagus, making swallowing difficult
  • Lye or other caustic substances: when ingested, such substances can cause scarring that may progress to cancer years later

Diagnosing esophageal cancer can be done in various ways, including:
X-rays of the gastrointestinal tract.

Esophagoscopy: a thin tube is inserted into the mouth to examine the inside of the esophagus. This procedure can also be used to collect cell samples from the stomach for analysis.

CT scans are used after a positive diagnosis to determine the extent, or spread of the cancer.

Treatment for esophageal cancer depends on the stage.

The most common treatment method consists of surgery, which usually involves the removal of a part of the esophageal tumor and the neighboring lymph nodes, including in some cases the upper part of the stomach. Afterwards, the digestive tract is reconstructed to replace the removed esophagus. Chemo and radiotherapy may be the ideal option for some patients or a complement to surgery.

Surgical Techniques:
Esophagectomy: The cancerous portions of the esophagus and neighboring lymph nodes are removed.

Radical esophagectomy: The entire esophagus and the top portion of the stomach are removed.

Chemotherapy
The use of drugs to kill cancer cells, is most often combined with radiation therapy.

Radiotherapy
The following technological means and radiation therapy are used with this disease:

  • Virtual CT simulation
  • Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)
  • Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT)
  • Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)