Esophageal Cancer: Etiology, Modern Treatment Methods and Future Directions

Abstract

Esophageal cancer (EC) is globally recognized as the sixth most often diagnosed cancer and the eighth most frequent cancer in terms of total occurrence. At the time of diagnosis, it exhibits a notable fatality rate and poor healing outcomes. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is commonly brought on by carcinogens entering and exiting the esophageal mucosa directly, such as via mechanical stress, alcohol intake, smoking, and obesity. The main pathophysiologic pathway for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The treatment of different types of EC varies. The primary strategy for treating locally advanced malignancies is surgery, with the inclusion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy for combination management. The purpose of adding chemotherapy in EC is to lower the tumor stage, reduce the risk of the tumor, and facilitate subsequent targeted therapy. In this paper, we will discuss the etiology of EC, modern treatment methods and future directions.