Comparative genomic analysis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma: New opportunities towards molecularly targeted therapy

Esophageal cancer is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide because of its rapid progression and poor prognosis. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) are two major subtypes of esophageal cancer. ESCC predominantly affects African and Asian populations, which is closely related to chronic smoking and alcohol consumption. EAC typically arises in Barrett's esophagus with a predilection for Western countries. While surgical operation and chemoradiotherapy have been applied to combat this deadly cancer, molecularly targeted therapy is still at the early stages. With the development of large-scale next-generation sequencing, various genomic alterations in ESCC and EAC have been revealed and their potential roles in the initiation and progression of esophageal cancer have been studied. Potential therapeutic targets have been identified and novel approaches have been developed to combat esophageal cancer. In this review, we comprehensively analyze the genomic alterations in EAC and ESCC and summarize the potential role of the genetic alterations in the development of esophageal cancer. Progresses in the therapeutics based on the different tissue types and molecular signatures have also been reviewed and discussed. (C) 2022 Chinese Pharmaceutical Association and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

Esophageal cancer is a highly lethal disease with rapid progression and poor prognosis. The two major subtypes, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), have distinct risk factors and molecular characteristics. Although surgical and chemoradiotherapy approaches have been applied, molecularly targeted therapy for esophageal cancer is still in its early stages. Advances in large-scale next-generation sequencing have revealed genomic alterations in ESCC and EAC, providing insights into their roles in the development and progression of esophageal cancer. Potential therapeutic targets have been identified, and novel strategies are under development to combat this disease.