Overview
Esophageal carcinoma, also called esophageal cancer or cancer of the esophagus, is a type of cancer that starts in the esophagus — the long tube that carries food and liquid from your mouth down to your stomach. There are two main types: squamous cell carcinoma, which usually starts in the upper or middle part of the esophagus, and adenocarcinoma, which usually starts in the lower part near the stomach. Both types can block the esophagus and spread to nearby tissues and organs if not caught early. The most common early sign is difficulty swallowing, which often starts with solid foods and later includes liquids. People may also lose weight without trying, feel chest pain or pressure, or have persistent heartburn that does not get better with medication. As the cancer grows, it can cause hoarseness, coughing, and fatigue. Treatment depends on how far the cancer has spread and may include surgery to remove part or all of the esophagus, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these. Newer targeted therapies and immunotherapy drugs, such as pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and nivolumab (Opdivo), have been approved for certain patients. Early detection greatly improves the chances of successful treatment, but many cases are found at a later stage when the cancer is harder to treat.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Difficulty swallowing, especially solid foodsUnintentional weight lossChest pain, pressure, or burningPersistent heartburn or indigestionHoarse or raspy voiceChronic cough that does not go awayRegurgitation of food or liquidFeeling like food is stuck in the throat or chestFatigue and low energyVomiting blood or passing black stoolsLoss of appetiteHiccups that do not stop
Multifactorial
Caused by a mix of several genes and environmental factors
Adult
Begins in adulthood (age 18 or older)
FDA & Trial Timeline
10 eventsCancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Shenzhen Center — NA
Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) — PHASE1
Sunshine Lake Pharma Co., Ltd. — PHASE1
Northwestern University — NA
Qilu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. — PHASE3
Blokhin's Russian Cancer Research Center
AHS Cancer Control Alberta — PHASE2
Daping Hospital and the Research Institute of Surgery of the Third Military Medical University
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Carcinoma of esophagus.
20 clinical trialsare actively recruiting — trials can provide access to cutting-edge therapies.
View clinical trials →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
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Carcinoma of esophagus.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Carcinoma of esophagus.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Carcinoma of esophagus
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: Endoscopic Variceal Ligation vs Carvedilol for the Prevention of First Esophageal Variceal Bleeding in Patients With HCC
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Carcinoma of esophagus
New recruiting trial: Study on Adjuvant Chemotherapy After Total Two-field Lymph Node Dissection of Thoracic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Carcinoma of esophagus
New recruiting trial: Camrelizumab Plus Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy or Chemoradiotherapy Versus Chemoradiotherapy in Resectable ESCC.
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Carcinoma of esophagus
New recruiting trial: Clinical Study of Adbelimumab in the Adjuvant Treatment of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Carcinoma of esophagus
New recruiting trial: Lymph Node Metastasis in Early Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Carcinoma of esophagus
New recruiting trial: A Study to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of LY01015 and Opdivo® Combined Respectively With Chemotherapy in Advanced or Metastatic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Carcinoma of esophagus
New recruiting trial: Lymphocyte-sparing Thoracic Radiotherapy for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Carcinoma of esophagus
New recruiting trial: A Clinical Trial Targeting CEA Chimeric Antigen Receptor T (CAR-T) for CEA Positive Advanced Malignant Solid Tumors
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Carcinoma of esophagus
New recruiting trial: RFA to Prevent Metachronous Squamous Neoplasia Recurrence After Complete Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Carcinoma of esophagus
New recruiting trial: A Study of BL-B01D1 in Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Gastrointestinal Tumor and Other Solid Tumor
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Carcinoma of esophagus
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.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.What stage is my cancer and what does that mean for my treatment options?,Should my tumor be tested for HER2, PD-L1, or other markers that might affect which treatments I can receive?,Is surgery an option for me, and what would recovery look like?,Are there clinical trials I might be eligible for?,How will treatment affect my ability to eat and swallow, and will I need a feeding tube?,What palliative care or nutritional support services are available to me?,Should my family members be tested for any hereditary cancer risk?
Common questions about Carcinoma of esophagus
What is Carcinoma of esophagus?
Esophageal carcinoma, also called esophageal cancer or cancer of the esophagus, is a type of cancer that starts in the esophagus — the long tube that carries food and liquid from your mouth down to your stomach. There are two main types: squamous cell carcinoma, which usually starts in the upper or middle part of the esophagus, and adenocarcinoma, which usually starts in the lower part near the stomach. Both types can block the esophagus and spread to nearby tissues and organs if not caught early. The most common early sign is difficulty swallowing, which often starts with solid foods and lat
How is Carcinoma of esophagus inherited?
Carcinoma of esophagus follows a multifactorial inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Carcinoma of esophagus typically begin?
Typical onset of Carcinoma of esophagus is adult. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Are there clinical trials for Carcinoma of esophagus?
Yes — 20 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for Carcinoma of esophagus on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Carcinoma of esophagus?
25 specialists and care centers treating Carcinoma of esophagus are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.