Current status and prospect of treatment for esophageal cancer in the era of precision medicine

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most common malignant tumors around the world and has a high incidence in China. Chinese EC patients account for more than 50% in the world. The pathological subtype of EC shows a geographic distribution. Adenocarcinoma is the main pathological type in western countries, while squamous cell carcinoma is the dominant subtype in China. Thus specific diagnosis and treatment of EC are needed for Chinese patients. Although early diagnosis, progress in surgery and comprehensive treatment of EC have made remarkable achievements in China in recent years, yet the prognosis for resectable EC patients remains poor, with a 5-year survival of 30%. In addition, as the level of treatment varies significantly in different regions and centers around China, the current status of treatment for EC needs further improvement. This article reviews the advances in the treatment for EC in recent years, analyzes the present problems, and explores the perspective of the progress in esophageal cancer treatment in the era of precision medicine. Key words: Esophageal neoplasms; Treatment; Precision medicine; Development