ABSTRACT Esophageal cancer is highly aggressive and is a common cancer both worldwide and in the US. In the past two decades, the incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer in the US have

both increased, whereas the incidence and mortality of other cancers have decreased. Although esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma differ in their histology and

epidemiologic distribution, some of their risk factors (e.g. dietary deficiencies and tobacco) and underlying mechanisms of carcinogenesis are the same. Intensive research into risk factors

combined with the ability to identify precursor lesions (e.g. squamous dysplasia in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and Barrett's esophagus in esophageal adenocarcinoma) has paved

most important risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma is Barrett's esophagus. * Important risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma include tobacco, alcohol and diets deficient in

fruits and vegetables * Chemoprevention studies in esophageal cancer, both dietary and pharmacologic show promise but need further study Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This

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OF GASTRIC CANCER: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL TRENDS, RISK FACTORS, SCREENING AND PREVENTION Article 23 March 2023 GLOBAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL BURDEN OF ESOPHAGEAL CANCER USING THE 2019 GLOBAL

BURDEN OF DISEASE STUDY Article Open access 26 January 2025 GLOBAL BURDEN AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF BARRETT OESOPHAGUS AND OESOPHAGEAL CANCER Article 18 February 2021 REFERENCES * Espey DK _ et

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Dr Sandy Dawsey and Dr Paul Limburg for their assistance in reviewing this manuscript. AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * SB Umar is a Fellow of Gastroenterology at Mayo Clinic

College of Medicine, and DE Fleischer is Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and a Consultant at Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ, USA., Sarah B Umar & David E

Fleischer Authors * Sarah B Umar View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * David E Fleischer View author publications You can also search for

this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Sarah B Umar. ETHICS DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS The authors declare no competing financial interests. RIGHTS

AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Umar, S., Fleischer, D. Esophageal cancer: epidemiology, pathogenesis and prevention. _Nat Rev Gastroenterol

Hepatol_ 5, 517–526 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpgasthep1223 Download citation * Received: 20 March 2008 * Accepted: 25 June 2008 * Published: 05 August 2008 * Issue Date: September

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