Current Research

Research for esophageal cancer is ongoing. The following advances may still be under investigation in clinical trials and may not be approved or available at this time. Always discuss all diagnostic and treatment options with your doctor.

Chemoprevention.Some evidence suggests that epigallocatechin, a compound found in green tea, may reduce the risk of esophageal squamous cell cancer. Researchers found that people who had this chemical in their urine had a reduced risk of esophageal and stomach cancer. Other clinical trials are looking at the use of aspirin and antacids to prevent esophageal adenocarcinoma in people with Barrett’s esophagus. Research is still ongoing, and people are encouraged to talk with their doctor before taking any medications or dietary supplements.

Combination therapy. Recent research studies have explored the addition of either chemotherapy, or a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, before surgery. Some research has shown that adding these therapies to surgery improves survival compared with surgery alone. Doctors continue to evaluate the use of these treatments before surgery.

Doctors are also studying combinations of different drugs, such as cisplatin (Platinol), fluorouracil (5-FU, Adrucil), paclitaxel (Taxol), irinotecan (Camptosar), docetaxel (Taxotere), oxaliplatin (Eloxatin), and capecitabine (Xeloda).

Targeted therapy. Targeted therapy is a treatment that targets faulty genes or proteins that contribute to cancer growth and development. Several promising treatments for esophageal cancer block the molecular pathways used by growing cells. In cancer, these pathways are permanently switched "on," causing uncontrolled cell growth.

• A monoclonal antibody that binds and inactivates the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is being tested in clinical trials for advanced disease, and in combination with radiation therapy. EGFR is a protein that regulates cell growth and is overly active in cancer cells, causing them to grow uncontrollably.
  
  
• A growth factor called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that controls the development of blood vessels is also a target for therapy. Researchers have found that patients with late-stage or advanced esophageal cancer have high levels of this protein in their blood. Stopping the effect of VEGF using drugs or monoclonal antibodies to prevent the development of the blood vessels that help a tumor grow and spread is now being studied for advanced disease and in combination with radiation therapy.