Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Esophageal Cancer
The esophagus is a hollow tube that carries food and liquids from your throat to your stomach. Early esophageal cancer usually does not cause symptoms. Later, you may have symptoms such as:
- Painful or difficult swallowing
- Weight loss
- A hoarse voice or cough that doesn't go away
You're at greater risk for getting esophageal cancer if you smoke, drink heavily, or have acid reflux. Your risk also goes up as you age
Your doctor uses imaging tests and a biopsy to diagnose esophageal cancer. Treatments include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. You might also need nutritional support, since the cancer or treatment may make it hard to swallow.
It sits within Cancers, Digestive System and Ear, Nose and Throat.
The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Cancer Institute.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Esophageal Cancer
3,077 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research currently under way
- Targeted Therapy Directed by Genetic Testing in Treating Patients With Advanced Refractory Solid Tumors, Lymphomas, or Multiple Myeloma (The MATCH Screening Trial)National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Study of AU-007, A Monoclonal Antibody That Binds to IL-2 and Inhibits IL-2Rα Binding, in Patients With Unresectable Locally Advanced or Metastatic CancerAulos Bioscience, Inc.
- A Clinical Trial of Ifinatamab Deruxtecan in People With Advanced Esophageal Cancer (MK-3475-06F)Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
- Berzosertib and Irinotecan in Treating Patients With Progressive, Metastatic, or Unresectable TP53 Mutant Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction CancerNational Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Study of AB598 Monotherapy and Combination Therapy in Participants With Advanced CancersArcus Biosciences, Inc.
- Symbiotic-GI-16: A Study to Learn About the Study Medicine Called PF-08634404 in Combination With Chemotherapy in Gastroesophageal CancerPfizer
Research already completed
- Study of Oxaliplatin and Xeloda and Cetuximab as First Line Treatment for Metastatic or Unresectable Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction CancerUniversity of Southern California
- Esophageal Cancer Genetics StudiesNational Cancer Institute (NCI)
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Start Here
- Esophageal CancerNational Cancer Institute
- Esophageal CancerAmerican Cancer Society
Diagnosis and Tests
- Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging of Esophageal CancerAmerican Cancer Society
- Esophageal Cancer ScreeningNational Cancer Institute
- Esophageal Cancer StagesNational Cancer Institute
- Upper GI EndoscopyNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Upper GI SeriesNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Treatments and Therapies
- Drugs Approved for Esophageal CancerNational Cancer Institute
- Esophageal Cancer TreatmentNational Cancer Institute
- Supportive Therapy for Esophageal CancerAmerican Cancer Society
- Treating Esophagus CancerAmerican Cancer Society
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Esophageal Cancer Causes, Risk Factors, and PreventionNational Cancer Institute
Living With
- After Treatment for Esophageal CancerAmerican Cancer Society
Related Issues
- Barrett's EsophagusNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Statistics and Research
- Cancer of the EsophagusNational Cancer Institute
- Key Statistics for Esophageal CancerAmerican Cancer Society
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Esophageal NeoplasmsNational Institutes of Health
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Esophageal Neoplasms. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Esophageal Cancer, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.