Esophageal Cancer Clinical Trials 2023

What Are Esophageal Cancer Clinical Trials?

Esophageal cancer is a disease that starts in the esophagus, a long tube-like muscle that runs from the throat into the stomach. The disease commonly starts forming in the cells lining the inside of the esophagus, however it may occur anywhere along the esophagus. Since esophageal cancer is the sixth most common cause of cancer deaths globally, scientists are ramping up esophageal cancer clinical trials to help with diagnosis and treatment.

The most common risk factors for esophageal cancer are the consumption of tobacco and alcohol. Older adults may be more likely to encounter esophageal cancer. The disease is usually asymptomatic until it spreads throughout the esophagus and other body parts. This is why regular tests are essential for discovering cancer at an early stage.

Why Is Esophageal Cancer Being Studied Through Clinical Trials?

Esophageal cancer clinical trials are important for improving the cancer's detection, prevention, and treatment while also ensuring that patients have a better quality of life. Clinical trials also identify the primary causes of esophageal cancer and discover more effective methods of treatment and diagnosis.

Diagnosis, in particular, plays a key role in managing the disease at an early stage. Because most esophageal cases are asymptomatic, people are commonly advised to get tested regularly. Advanced treatments are aimed at diminishing the impact of esophageal cancer and harnessing the body's ability to heal itself.

What Are The Types of Treatments Available for Esophageal Cancer?

Knowing how far the cancer has spread is important before planning treatment. Doctors will prescribe various tests and procedures to help them make informed decisions, including CT scans, endoscopic ultrasounds, PET scans, and MRIs. The cancer staging system evolves as more esophageal cancer clinical trials improve diagnosis and treatment.

The first course of action is surgery to remove tumors, followed by chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be used with chemotherapy. Finally, the patient will be prescribed drugs to kill cancer cells and boost their immune system.

What Are Some Recent Breakthrough Clinical Trials For Esophageal Cancer?

The following studies indicate progress in diagnosing, treating, and managing Esophageal Cancer.

2008 - Recent Advances in Esophageal Cancer Chemotherapy - This study is based on various esophageal cancer clinical trials, including monoclonal antibodies and signal transduction for EGFR. It studied response rates of drug combinations and chemotherapy for managing the cancer.

2019 - Immunotherapy in Esophageal Cancer: This study evaluated several clinical trials to establish a multimodal radiation therapy for esophageal cancer, including immunotherapy.

Who Are Some Of The Key Opinion Leaders / Researchers / Institutions Conducting Esophageal Cancer Trial Research?

David H. Ilson is a medical oncologist who has been consistently recognized as a top doctor by New York Magazine. He conducted esophageal cancer clinical trials by collecting the T cells of patients and developing new treatments.

Geoffrey Y. Ku is an eminent medical oncologist at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, specializing in various types of cancer, including esophageal and pancreatic cancers.