A Snapshot of  Esophageal Cancer

U.S. Esophageal Cancer Incidence

Incidence and Mortality 25

Rate Trends 20

Incidence per 100,000

The incidence and mortality rates for esophageal
cancer in the United States are very similar. 15

Regardless of race or ethnicity, men have higher

incidence and mortality rates than women. The 10

esophageal cancer mortality rates for African

Americans are higher than the rates for whites, 5

but the incidence and death rates for African

Americans have steadily declined over the past 0
1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006
two decades. This downward trend is not observed
for other racial or ethnic groups. U.S. Esophageal Cancer Mortality
25
It is estimated that approximately $800 million1 is
spent in the United States each year on treatment 20
Mortality per 100,000

of esophageal cancer.
15
Source for incidence and mortality data: Surveillance, Epidemiology,
and End Results (SEER) Program and the National Center for Health
Statistics. Additional statistics and charts are available at http://seer.
cancer.gov/. 10

1
Cancer Trends Progress Report (http://progressreport.cancer.gov), in
2004 dollars, based on methods described in Medical Care 2002 5
Aug;40(8 Suppl):IV-104–17.

0
1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006
White Males White Females Overall Rate
African American Males African American Females

NCI Esophageal Cancer Research Investment

Trends in NCI Funding for $4.7B $4.8B $4.7B $4.8B $4.8B
5

Esophageal Cancer Research 25

$21.7M
$22.7M
$21.6M
$22.3M $22.4M

4
The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) investment2 20
Billions of Dollars
Millions of Dollars

in esophageal cancer research increased from

$21.7 million in fiscal year 2004 to $22.4 million 3
15
in fiscal year 2008.
2
Source: NCI Office of Budget and Finance (http://obf.cancer.gov). 10
2
The estimated NCI investment is based on funding associated with
a broad range of peer-reviewed scientific activities. For additional 1
information on research planning and budgeting at the National 5
Institutes of Health (NIH), see http://www.nih.gov/about/.
0 0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Fiscal Year
Esophageal Cancer Funding Total NCI Budget

Snapshots can be found online at: http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/servingpeople/cancer-snapshots

Examples of NCI Activities
Relevant to Esophageal Cancer
• The Prevention Agents Program provides scientific and
administrative oversight for chemoprevention agent
development from preclinical research to early Phase
I studies. The program is currently supporting research
on several agents for potential chemoprevention of
esophageal  cancer.  http://prevention.cancer.gov/
programs-resources/groups/cad/programs/agents
• The interdisciplinary scientists of the Network for
Translational Research: Optical Imaging (NTROI) are
accelerating translational research in optical imaging
and/or spectroscopy. Current efforts include the
development of techniques to identify molecular markers
for detecting esophageal neoplasia and understanding
basic disease mechanisms. http://imaging.cancer.gov/
programsandresources/specializedinitiatives/ntroi/print
• The Asian Barrett Consortium (ABC), modeled after
the successful Barrett Esophagus and Esophageal
Adenocarcinoma Consortium (BEACON), was formed
to enhance international collaborations in research into
the initiating factors for Barrett esophagus and esophageal
adenocarcinoma.  http://dceg.cancer.gov/newsletter/
nov08/article_08_EsophagealDiseasesConsortium.
shtml
• The Stomach/Esophageal Cancers Progress Review
Group (PRG), a panel of prominent scientists and
patient advocates, assessed the state of the science and
identified future research priorities for stomach and
esophageal cancers.  http://planning.cancer.gov/library/
stomach_esophageal.pdf
Selected Advances in Esophageal Cancer Research
• A phase III randomized trial is studying whether
adding a targeted biologic agent (cetuximab) to
chemoradiotherapy improves response rate and survival
of patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer.
http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/051909/
page7
• Preoperative chemoradiotherapy may be an acceptable
option for appropriately selected elderly esophageal
cancer  patients.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
pubmed/19289262
NCI Esophageal Cancer Research Portfolio
Scientific Model
Systems
Cancer Control, Survivorship,
and Outcomes Research Biology
4% 3% 11%
Treatment 18%
24% Etiology
(Causes
of Cancer)
31% 9%
Early Detection, Prevention
Diagnosis, and Prognosis
Percentage of Total Dollars by Scientific Area
Fiscal Year 2008
Data sources: NCI’s Division of Extramural Activities and the NCI Funded Research
Portfolio. Only projects with assigned scientific area codes are included. A
description of relevant research projects can be found on the NCI Funded Research
Portfolio website at http://fundedresearch.cancer.gov
• The What You Need to Know About™ Cancer of the
Esophagus booklet contains information on diagnosis
and staging, treatment, supportive care and nutrition,
and taking part in research studies related to cancer of
the esophagus. Information specialists can also answer
questions about cancer at 1-800-4-CANCER. http://
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/esophagus
• The Esophageal Cancer Home Page provides up-to-date
information on esophageal cancer treatment, prevention,
genetics, causes, screening, testing, and other topics.
http://cancer.gov/cancerinfo/types/esophageal
• Researchers found that higher intake of meats
(particularly red meat) and lower intake of
vegetables is associated with an increased risk of
esophageal carcinoma.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
pubmed/18537156
• Mutations in the p53 protein are associated with a 2-
fold increased risk of death from all esophageal cancers,
whereas mutations in the MDM2 protein are associated
with a 7-fold increased risk of death from squamous cell
cancer of the esophagus. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
pubmed/19383811
Last updated September 2009