Oesophageal cancer research
The 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.


