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Oesophageal cancer research

Oesophageal cancerThe UK has one of the highest rates of oesophageal cancer (cancer of the foodpipe) in Europe. Each year more than 8,000 people are diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in the UK, and incidence rates are rising.

Cancer Research UK funds research into many different aspects of oesophageal cancer, from understanding the causes of the disease to finding better ways of treating it.

You can find out more about oesophageal cancer on our patient information website, CancerHelp UK.

Below are some of the highlights of our oesophageal cancer research portfolio.

On this page

 

Cancer genes

Prof Bruce Ponder Prof Bruce Ponder

Cancer Research UK Human Cancer Genetics Research Group

Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge

Hunting cancer genes

Professor Sir Bruce Ponder is Director and Professor of Oncology at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute. He is world-renowned for his pioneering research into discovering genes that affect our risk of common cancers, particularly breast cancer. He is also investigating the genetics of oesophageal cancer.

 

Chemotherapy

Dr Tom Crosby Dr Tom Crosby

Velindre Cancer Centre

Velindre NHS Trust, Cardiff

Testing a new way to treat oesophageal cancer

Dr Tom Crosby is a consultant clinical oncologist at the Velindre Hospital in Cardiff. He is running a clinical trial called SCOPE 1, testing a new way of treating oesophageal cancer (cancer of the foodpipe).

Dr Heike Grabsch Dr Heike Grabsch

Section of Pathology and Tumour Biology

St James’s University Hospital, Leeds

Personalised treatment for oesophageal cancer

Dr Heike Grabsch is based at St James’ University Hospital in Leeds. She is looking for ways to personalise treatments for oesophageal and stomach cancers. Her research will help ensure that, in the future, patients are given the treatments that will work best for them.

 

Clinical trials

Dr Tom Crosby Dr Tom Crosby

Velindre Cancer Centre

Velindre NHS Trust, Cardiff

Testing a new way to treat oesophageal cancer

Dr Tom Crosby is a consultant clinical oncologist at the Velindre Hospital in Cardiff. He is running a clinical trial called SCOPE 1, testing a new way of treating oesophageal cancer (cancer of the foodpipe).

Professor David Ferry Professor David Ferry

Department of Oncology

New Cross Hospital, Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust, Wolverhampton

Testing new treatments for oesophageal cancer

Professor David Ferry is Professor of Medical Oncology at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton. He is leading a large clinical trial to see if the drug gefitinib (Iressa) can improve survival in people who have oesophageal cancer that has come back.

 

Genes

Dr Janet Risk Dr Janet Risk

School of Dental Sciences

University of Liverpool, Liverpool

Understanding the genetic causes of oesophageal cancer

Dr Janet Risk, based at the University of Liverpool, is finding out how a molecule called cytoglobin is involved in oesophageal cancer. She’s carrying out innovative experiments on cells in the lab to understand how different amounts of cytoglobin affect the growth and spread of this disease.

 

Screening

Dr Rebecca Fitzgerald Dr Rebecca Fitzgerald

MRC Cancer Cell Unit

University of Cambridge, Cambridge

Can a sponge help to prevent oesophageal cancer?

Dr Rebecca Fitzgerald from the University of Cambridge is leading a trial of a new screening test to detect a condition called Barrett’s oesophagus, which increases the risk of oesophageal (foodpipe) cancer. The new test could identify people who need treatment to remove any pre-cancerous cells, helping to prevent them from developing the disease in the first place.