Overview
Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction is a malignant epithelial tumour arising from the glandular cells lining the lower oesophagus or the junction between the oesophagus and stomach. It is one of the two main histological types of oesophageal cancer (the other being squamous cell carcinoma) and has been increasing in incidence in Western countries over recent decades. The disease primarily affects the digestive system, and its development is strongly associated with chronic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and Barrett's oesophagus, a condition in which the normal squamous epithelium of the lower oesophagus is replaced by intestinal-type columnar epithelium. Other risk factors include obesity, smoking, male sex, and a diet low in fruits and vegetables. Key symptoms include progressive difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), initially for solids and later for liquids, unintentional weight loss, chest or epigastric pain, heartburn, regurgitation, and occasionally gastrointestinal bleeding leading to anaemia. Because early-stage disease is often asymptomatic, diagnosis is frequently made at an advanced stage, which contributes to a generally poor prognosis. Diagnosis is established through upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsy, and staging involves imaging studies such as CT, PET-CT, and endoscopic ultrasound. Treatment depends on the stage at diagnosis. Early-stage tumours confined to the mucosa may be treated with endoscopic resection techniques. Locally advanced disease is typically managed with neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy followed by surgical resection (oesophagectomy). Advanced or metastatic disease is treated with palliative systemic therapy, which may include chemotherapy, targeted therapies (such as trastuzumab for HER2-positive tumours and ramucirumab), and immune checkpoint inhibitors (such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab). Multidisciplinary care is essential for optimising outcomes.
Also known as:
Clinical phenotype terms— hover any for plain English:
Multifactorial
Caused by a mix of several genes and environmental factors
Adult
Begins in adulthood (age 18 or older)
FDA & Trial Timeline
10 eventsUniversity Hospital, Antwerp — NA
Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine — PHASE2
Bristol-Myers Squibb — PHASE2, PHASE3
I-Mab Biopharma US Limited — PHASE2
Institut für Klinische Krebsforschung IKF GmbH at Krankenhaus Nordwest — PHASE1
Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven — PHASE2
Plexium, Inc. — PHASE1
Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University — NA
Erasmus Medical Center — PHASE2
Centre Leon Berard — PHASE2
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
5 availableVyloy
in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adults with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic human epidermal growth …
in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adults with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma whose tumors are claudin (CLDN) 18.2 positive as determined by an FDA-approved test
Tevimbra
in combination with platinum and fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy, for the first-line treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocar…
in combination with platinum and fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy, for the first-line treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (G/GEJ) whose tumors express PD-L1 (greater than or equal to 1)
Enhertu
treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma who have received a prior trastuzumab-based regimen
LONSURF
LONSURF is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma previously treated with at least two prior lines of chemotherapy that inclu…
LONSURF is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma previously treated with at least two prior lines of chemotherapy that included a fluoropyrimidine, a platinum, either a taxane or irinotecan, and if appropriate, HER2/neu-targeted therapy.
Herceptin
Treatment of patients with HER2 overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, who have not received prior treatment for metastatic disease
Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Financial Resources
2 resourcesTravel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction.
Community
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Start the conversation →Latest news about Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: Folfox+Irinotecan+Chemort In Esophageal Cancer
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction
New recruiting trial: Adding Nivolumab to Usual Treatment for People With Advanced Stomach or Esophageal Cancer, PARAMUNE Trial
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction
New recruiting trial: A Multicenter Cancer Biospecimen Collection Study
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction
New recruiting trial: Substudy 06D: Combination Therapies in Second Line (2L) Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma (MK-3475-06D/Keymaker-U06)
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction
New recruiting trial: Relationship Between Perioperative Treatment Efficacy and The Tumor Microenvironment for Locally Advanced Resectable Gastric Cancer.
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction
New recruiting trial: A Randomized, Multicenter Phase II Basket Study of Hypofractionated Radiotherapy/Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Followed by Immunotherapy-Based Systemic Therapy +/- L. Rhamnosus M9 for the First-Line Treatment of Advanced Digestive System Malignancies.
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction
New recruiting trial: Collecting Blood Samples From Patients With and Without Cancer to Evaluate Tests for Early Cancer Detection
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction
New recruiting trial: Phase II RAINSPOT: Zolbetuximab-Paclitaxel-Ramucirumab for CLDN18.2 Positive Gastro-esophageal Cancer
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction
New recruiting trial: Camrelizumab Combined With Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy Perioperative Treatment of Esophageal Gastric Junction Adenocarcinoma
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction
New recruiting trial: Registry Platform Gastric/Esophageal Cancer (SAPHIR)
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Common questions about Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction
What is Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction?
Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction is a malignant epithelial tumour arising from the glandular cells lining the lower oesophagus or the junction between the oesophagus and stomach. It is one of the two main histological types of oesophageal cancer (the other being squamous cell carcinoma) and has been increasing in incidence in Western countries over recent decades. The disease primarily affects the digestive system, and its development is strongly associated with chronic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and Barrett's oesophagus, a condition in which the nor
How is Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction inherited?
Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction follows a multifactorial inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction typically begin?
Typical onset of Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction is adult. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Are there clinical trials for Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction?
Yes — 17 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction?
25 specialists and care centers treating Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.
What treatment and support options exist for Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction?
4 patient support programs are currently tracked on UniteRare for Adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction. See the treatments and support programs sections for copay assistance, eligibility, and contact details.