2026食管癌诊疗全景解析报告：从流行病学趋势到免疫治疗新突破

Last Reviewed:21 Jan, 2026 Latest Takeaways •••••••Datamonitor Healthcare estimates that in 2025, there were627,800 incident casesof esophageal cancer worldwide, and expectsthat number toincrease to 648,100 incident cases by 2030.Incidenceishigher in malescompared to females, and ishighest in the Asia region.The approved drugsin the esophageal cancer spacetarget programmed death-1 receptor (PD-1), reactive oxygen species/free radicals, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4), and the immune system.These drugs are administered via theintravenous route.Immunotherapy-based regimensare increasingly established acrossfirst-line and later-line settings, particularly inesophageal squamous cell carcinoma, reflecting a shift away from chemotherapy-only backbones.Thelargest proportion of industry-sponsored drugs in active clinical development for esophageal cancer are in Phase II.Therapies in development for esophageal cancer focus on a wide variety of targets.The majority of pipeline drugs areadministered intravenously, with the remainder being oral, surgical implantation, intramuscular, intratumoral, and intranodalformulations.High-impact upcoming eventsin the esophageal cancer space includeanticipated regulatory approval decisions in JapanforbothTelomelysinandTevimbra. Disease Background Esophageal cancer is a malignancy arising from the epithelial cells lining the esophagus. The cancer grows outward from the inner layersof the esophageal wall, and can spread to the lymph nodes and other organs such as the lungs, liver, and stomach. Pain and difficultywhile swallowing food are the most common symptoms associated with esophageal cancer. These occur due to growth of the tumor, whichblocks the pathway to the stomach. Other symptoms can include hoarseness, chest pain, heartburn or indigestion, weight loss, vomiting,pain in the throat or behind the breastbone, and chronic cough. Esophageal cancer is classified into two main subtypes: squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma beginsin squamous cells which make up the lining of the esophagus. This cancer occurs most often at the upper and middle portion of theesophagus, but can also develop at other points. Cancer that starts in the glandular tissue of the lower section of the esophagus is knownas adenocarcinoma. Other esophageal cancers, which represent less than 1% of cancers of the esophagus, include sarcoma, small cellneuroendocrine tumors, and lymphoma. Individuals aged 45–70 years are more prone to esophageal cancer, and compared to women, men are 3–4 times more likely to developthe disease. Black individuals are twice as likely as white individuals to develop squamous cell carcinoma. People with gastroesophagealreflux disease (GERD) are at a slightly higher risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, GERD can lead to Barrett’sesophagus, which is associated with an even higher risk of causing esophageal cancer. Other important risk factors for esophageal cancerinclude use of tobacco products, drinking alcohol, obesity, achalasia, accidental consumption of lye or exposure to chemical fumes, and adiet that is low in fruit and vegetables. Several factors such as the tumor type, results of previous medical tests, signs and symptoms, andage and medical condition may be considered when selecting a diagnostic test. A physical examination, upper endoscopy, bronchoscopy,endoscopic ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, molecular testing, biopsy, or PET scan may be used in diagnosing the disease. Source: American Cancer Society 03/20/2020(What Is Cancer of the Esophagus?)American Cancer Society 03/20/2020(Signs and Symptoms of Esophageal Cancer)American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 09/01/2022(Esophageal Cancer: Symptoms and Signs)American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 09/01/2022(Esophageal Cancer: Introduction)American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 09/01/2022(Esophageal Cancer: Risk Factors)American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 09/01/2022(Esophageal Cancer: Diagnosis) Treatment Depending on the type and stage of the cancer, various treatment options are available. Local treatments such as surgery, radiation, andendoscopic therapies are used to treat esophageal cancer arising in particular locations. Systemic treatments such as chemotherapy,immunotherapy, and targeted therapy are used to treat more advanced cancers. Surgery Esophagectomy is a surgical procedure involving partial or total removal of the esophagus, along with some portion of the stomach. Openesophagectomy and minimally invasive esophagectomy are the two main techniques, and include the removal of lymph nodes along withthe affected esophagus. In an open esophagectomy, the affected part of the esophagus is removed by making cuts in the chest, neck, orabdomen, and the procedure can be transthoracic or transhiatal in nature. In a transthoracic esophagectomy, the cuts are made in thechest and abdomen to remove the esophagus, while in transhiatal eso