Basis for molecular diagnostics and immunotherapy for esophageal cancer. Issue 1 (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abdo, Joe; Agrawal, Devendra K.; Mittal, Sumeet K.
• Is Part Of: Expert review of anticancer therapy. Volume 17:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 33
• Page End: 45
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: Esophageal cancer -- precision medicine -- molecular oncology -- targeted therapy -- PD-L1 inhibitors -- CTLA-4 inhibitors -- combination immunotherapy -- proteomics -- targeted chemotherapy -- esophageal adenocarcinoma; Cancer -- Treatment -- Periodicals; 616.99406
• DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2017.1260449
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-7140

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Esophageal cancer (EC) is an extremely aggressive neoplasm, diagnosed in about 17, 000 Americans every year with a mortality rate of more than 80% within five years and a median overall survival of just 13 months. For decades, the go-to regimen for esophageal cancer patients has been the use of taxane and platinum-based chemotherapy regimens, which has yielded the field's most dire survival statistics. Areas covered: Combination immunotherapy and a more robust molecular diagnostic platform for esophageal tumors could improve patient management strategies and potentially extend lives beyond the current survival figures. Analyzing a panel of biomarkers including those affiliated with taxane and platinum resistance (ERCC1 and TUBB3) as well as immunotherapy effectiveness (PD-L1) would provide oncologists more information on how to optimize first-line therapy for EC. Expert commentary: Of the 12 FDA-approved therapies in EC, zero target the genome. A majority of the approved drugs either target or are effected by proteomic expression. Therefore, a broader understanding of diagnostic biomarkers could give more clarity and direction in treating esophageal cancer in concert with a greater use of immunotherapy.