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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 around 7,800 people are diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in the UK and incidence rates have increased by almost 30% in the past 20 years.

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.

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).

 

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).

 

Detecting cancer

Dr Laurence Lovat Dr Laurence Lovat

National Medical Laser Centre

Royal Free and University College Hospital, London

Early detection for oesophageal cancer

Dr Laurence Lovat and his team at University College Hospital are developing a new way to detect early changes in the cells lining the oesophagus (food pipe). Dr Lovat hopes that the new technique will offer a better way to monitor people with a higher risk of developing oesophageal cancer.