Learn about the latest treatments for advanced esophageal cancer. We’ve got it covered, from new FDA approvals to emerging approaches in immunotherapy, targeted therapy, drug combinations, and more.

  • February 8, 2022  

    Facing Esophageal Cancer in 2022

    Kaumudi Bhawe, PhD

    Difficulty swallowing, a hoarse voice, or heartburn has led to the dreaded diagnosis of esophageal cancer. What now? Origin, Types, and Stages of Esophageal Cancer If you or a loved one face esophageal cancer, it can be helpful to start by learning more about the disease and your particular diagnosis. Then, you will be prepared to learn about esophageal cancer treatments. Esophageal cancer originates… Read more »

  • July 28, 2021  

    2021 ASCO Annual Meeting Bookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    Researchers at the 2021 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) reported substantial advances in treatment for advanced esophageal, castration-resistant prostate, and metastatic nasopharyngeal cancers.

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  • December 3, 2020  

    A Phase I Study of Telomelysin Added to Chemoradiation for Patients with Advanced Inoperable Esophageal Cancer Bookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center recently began recruiting patients for a phase 1 clinical trial to test a treatment in which an investigational cancer cell-killing virus called Telomelysin is directly injected into inoperable esophageal cancer tumors. Participating patients will receive this “cancer vaccine” alongside standard chemoradiation therapy.

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I am passionate about making advancements in cancer care. Cancer Commons provides crucial resources for patients to help them navigate their care giving them hope during a very hard time in their lives.

Lola Rahib, PhD
Scientist, Cancer Commons

Molecular tests help match patients to the personalized treatments that are most likely to work for them. Keep up with new developments in genetic tests, tumor mutations, MSI status, other biomarkers, and additional precision-medicine strategies.

Some of the most promising new treatments for advanced esophageal cancer are currently being tested in patients enrolled in clinical trials. We help you stay up to date on the latest results from these studies.

  • April 12, 2021  

    Adjuvant Nivolumab in Resected Esophageal or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer Bookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    An academic research paper published in The New England Journal of Medicine reports new results from a phase III, randomized, double-blinded, controlled clinical trial. In the trial, people with esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer that had been surgically resected were treated with either a placebo drug or the drug nivolumab. All patients had previously received chemotherapy before resection and had residual disease after surgery. The findings suggest that nivolumab may be beneficial, as median disease-free survival in was doubled (22 versus 11 months) in the nivolumab treated group compared to the placebo group.

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  • November 24, 2020  

    For Esophageal Cancer, Immunotherapy Likely to Play Larger Role Bookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    A blog post from the National Cancer Institute reports that two clinical trials are showing encouraging results for progression-free survival—and one for overall survival—from treatment with immunotherapy drugs in people with advanced esophageal cancer. 

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This free-of-charge, high-quality information service is a wonderful resource for patients with advanced cancer.

Hope S. Rugo, MD
UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center

Cancer affects many aspects of life, whether you’re newly diagnosed, in the midst of treatment, or in follow-up care. Learn about ways to maintain quality of life, such as palliative care and managing side effects.

  • October 14, 2019  

    Pediatric Palliative Care: A Specialty Comes of Age

    Sarah Friebert, MD

    For a child with cancer, palliative care can provide much-needed relief from stress and symptoms—for the patient and their family alike. Palliative care is given alongside cancer treatment, and is not synonymous with “end-of-life” care. In fact, anyone with a serious illness can benefit from palliative care, no matter their long-term outlook. Because of its importance for children with cancer, we are honored to… Read more »

  • August 11, 2021  

    Anxiety Before Each Chemotherapy Treatment Bookmark

    Lola Rahib, PhD

    Article from Let’s Win! Pancreatic Cancer: Pancreatic cancer patients share their experiences with pre-chemo anxiety and their personal strategies for overcoming it.

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  • February 11, 2020  

    ‘Impressed With Impact’ of Ketamine in Cancer Palliative Care Bookmark

    George Lundberg, MD

    Article from Medscape curated by Editor in Chief George Lundberg, MD, who notes: 

    Depression is, for obvious reasons, common in patients with advanced cancer. The old, inexpensive drug ketamine—already approved for medical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—seems rapidly effective, according to small studies.

    Go to full article published by Medscape.

    If you’re wondering whether this story applies to your own cancer case or a loved one’s, we invite you to get support from Cancer Commons.

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You’re not alone. Read how other patients and caregivers navigated diagnosis, treatment, and life with cancer. We hope their stories provide insights and hope for your own cancer journey.

More patient stories

Learn more about what’s new in advanced cancer research and treatment, including screening and statistics, using artificial intelligence to improve treatment, and other new horizons in cancer care.

  • April 13, 2022  

    Cancer Commons Adapts to Remain True to Our Mission

    With: Shelley Frisbie

    People facing advanced cancer come to Cancer Commons to ensure they have all the information they need to make their best-possible cancer care decisions. Here, Curious Dr. George asks our CFO & COO Shelley Frisbie about recent updates to our organization. Curious Dr. George: You have been the CFO of Cancer Commons for some time and recently added the COO title and duties to… Read more »

  • March 16, 2022  

    Cellular Aging and the Development of Cancer

    With: Kaumudi Bhawe, PhD

    Cancer is so often a disease of older people that a whole medical field, “oncogeriatrics,” exists to address the topic. Deeper understanding of the links between cancer and aging could lead to better treatments. Here, our Curious Dr. George asks Cancer Commons Clinical Scientist Kaumudi Bhawe, PhD, about the relationship between cancer and aging processes that occur in individual cells in our bodies—throughout our… Read more »

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The coronavirus pandemic presents unprecedented challenges to cancer patients. We can help you understand how COVID-19 might impact your treatment and other aspects of your cancer care.