Condition

Esophageal cancer

Clinical trials and treatment information for Esophageal cancer

1M
People Affected
200
Active Trials
552K
New Cases/Year
539K
Deaths/Year

Treatment Rankings

Ranked by evidence volume first. Medicine has spent centuries ranking things by vibes. This is an improvement.

1
Concurrent Chemoradiation
85% Effectiveness• 90% Confidence• 25% Safety• 196 trials• 30K participants
HIGH EvidenceGood ValueDose: Chemotherapy: e.g., Cisplatin 75 mg/m2 D1, 5-FU 1000 mg/m2/day D1-4 (every 3 weeks for 2-3 cycles) OR Carboplatin AUC 2 + Paclitaxel 50 mg/m2 weekly. Radiation: 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions.
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
25
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

1-2 months

Duration

5-6 weeks

Response Rate

70%

Remission Rate

30%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

7

Common Side Effects:

Acute Esophagitis: 60%
Dysphagia: 40%
Nausea/Vomiting: 50%
Fatigue: 70%
Myelosuppression (Neutropenia): 35%
Radiation Pneumonitis: 10%
Stricture: 20%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$15,000

Monitoring

$50,000

Side Effects

$15,000

Total Annual

$80,000

Cost-Effectiveness

GOOD

QALYs Gained

2

Cost per Remission

$266,666.67

Cost per Responder

$114,285.71

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Tumor Max Diameter5.0 cm
-60% (-3.0 cm)
Dysphagia Score2.5 points (0-4 scale)
-60% (-1.5 points)
Esophageal Lumen Diameter at Stricture Site0.5 cm
+200% (+1.0 cm)
Pain Score (VAS)6/10 (VAS scale)
-50% (-3 points)
Secondary Benefits
Body Weight60 kg
+5% (+3 kg)
ECOG Performance Status1.5 points (ECOG 0-5 scale)
-33% (-0.5 points)
Global Health Status/QoL Score (EORTC QLQ-C30)50/100
+20% (+10 points)
Common Side Effects
Acute Esophagitis
+60%
Dysphagia
+40%
Nausea/Vomiting
+50%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4
2
Esophagectomy (Surgery)
80% Effectiveness• 90% Confidence• 30% Safety• 195 trials• 200K participants
HIGH EvidenceGood Value
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
30
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

immediate tumor removal

Duration

single event, weeks to months recovery

Response Rate

%

Remission Rate

35%

Common Side Effects:

Anastomotic Leak: 10%
Pulmonary Complications: 20%
Cardiac Complications: 10%
Infection: 15%
Dysphagia (long-term): 30%
Reflux: 40%
Mortality (hospital): 5%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$0

Monitoring

$10,000

Side Effects

$15,000

Total Annual

$130,000

Cost-Effectiveness

GOOD

QALYs Gained

2.5

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
5-year Overall Survival RateExpected 5-year OS rate with definitive chemoradiation only for resectable EC: 30%
+50% (+15 percentage points)
Loco-regional Recurrence RateLoco-regional recurrence rate after definitive chemoradiation only: 35%
-65.7% (-23 percentage points)
Dysphagia SeverityDysphagia score (EORTC QLQ-OES18, 0-100, higher is worse): 70
-71.4% (-50 points)
R0 Resection Rate (Complete Microscopic Tumor Removal)Expected R0 resection rate for resectable EC without optimal neoadjuvant therapy: 60%
+41.7% (+25 percentage points)
Secondary Benefits
Global Health Status/Quality of LifeGlobal Health Status/QoL score (EORTC QLQ-C30, 0-100, higher is better): 40
+62.5% (+25 points)
Cancer-related Pain SeverityPain score (EORTC QLQ-C30, 0-100, higher is worse): 60
-75% (-45 points)
Nutritional Status (Serum Albumin)Serum Albumin: 3.0 g/dL
+26.7% (+0.8 g/dL)
Common Side Effects
Anastomotic Leak
+10%
Pulmonary Complications
+20%
Cardiac Complications
+10%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 4
3
Systemic Chemotherapy (e.g., FOLFOX/CAPOX)
70% Effectiveness• 90% Confidence• 25% Safety• 3000 trials• 50K participants
HIGH EvidenceGood ValueDose: e.g., FOLFOX: Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, Leucovorin 400 mg/m2, 5-FU 400 mg/m2 bolus then 2400 mg/m2 over 46 hours every 2 weeks.
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
25
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

1-2 months

Duration

multiple cycles, until progression or toxicity

Response Rate

40%

Remission Rate

5%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

4

Common Side Effects:

Nausea/Vomiting: 70%
Myelosuppression (Neutropenia): 50%
Fatigue: 80%
Peripheral Neuropathy: 25%
Mucositis: 40%
Hair Loss: 60%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$40,000

Monitoring

$15,000

Side Effects

$10,000

Total Annual

$65,000

Cost-Effectiveness

GOOD

QALYs Gained

0.5

ICER

$70,000/QALY

Cost per Remission

$1,300,000

Cost per Responder

$162,500

Treatment Outcomes
Efficacy Outcomes
Overall Effectiveness
+70%
Response Rate
+40%
Remission Rate
+5%
Common Side Effects
Nausea/Vomiting
+70%
Myelosuppression (Neutropenia)
+50%
Fatigue
+80%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4
4
Immunotherapy (e.g., Pembrolizumab, Nivolumab)
65% Effectiveness• 85% Confidence• 45% Safety• 300 trials• 15K participants
HIGH EvidencePoor ValueDose: Pembrolizumab 200 mg IV every 3 weeks or 400 mg IV every 6 weeks.
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
45
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

1-3 months

Duration

until progression or unacceptable toxicity (months to 2 years)

Response Rate

20%

Remission Rate

3%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

9

Common Side Effects:

Fatigue: 40%
Rash: 20%
Diarrhea/Colitis (immune-related): 10%
Endocrinopathies (e.g., Hypothyroidism): 7%
Pneumonitis (immune-related): 3%
Hepatitis (immune-related): 3%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$150,000

Monitoring

$10,000

Side Effects

$5,000

Total Annual

$165,000

Cost-Effectiveness

POOR

QALYs Gained

0.35

ICER

$250,000/QALY

Cost per Remission

$5,500,000

Cost per Responder

$825,000

Treatment Outcomes
Efficacy Outcomes
Overall Effectiveness
+65%
Response Rate
+20%
Remission Rate
+3%
Common Side Effects
Fatigue
+40%
Rash
+20%
Diarrhea/Colitis (immune-related)
+10%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4
5
Trastuzumab (for HER2+ Adenocarcinoma)
60% Effectiveness• 85% Confidence• 55% Safety• 15 trials• 3K participants
HIGH EvidencePoor ValueDose: Trastuzumab 8 mg/kg loading dose IV, then 6 mg/kg IV every 3 weeks.
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
55
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

1-2 months

Duration

until progression or unacceptable toxicity (months to 1-2 years)

Response Rate

47%

Remission Rate

8%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

12

Common Side Effects:

Infusion Reactions: 15%
Cardiotoxicity (LVEF decrease): 7%
Diarrhea: 15%
Fatigue: 40%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$70,000

Monitoring

$8,000

Side Effects

$3,000

Total Annual

$81,000

Cost-Effectiveness

POOR

QALYs Gained

0.45

ICER

$180,000/QALY

Cost per Remission

$1,012,500

Cost per Responder

$172,340.43

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Percentage of Participants With Objective Response Rate (ORR) Based on Independent Central Review Following Treatment With DS8201a in Participants With HER2-Positive Unresectable or Metastatic Gastric or Gastro-Esophageal Junction (GEJ) Adenocarcinoma
0%
Efficacy4 Participants
+350% (+14.0 Participants)
Secondary Benefits
Progression-Free Survival (PFS) Based on Independent Central Review Following Treatment With DS8201a in Participants With HER2-Positive Unresectable or Metastatic Gastric or Gastro-Esophageal Junction (GEJ) Adenocarcinoma
0%
Progression-Free Survival (PFS) Based on Investigator Assessment Following Treatment With DS8201a in Participants With HER2-Positive Unresectable or Metastatic Gastric or Gastro-Esophageal Junction (GEJ) Adenocarcinoma
0%
Objective Response Rate (ORR) Based on Investigator Assessment Following Treatment With DS8201a in Participants With HER2-Positive Unresectable or Metastatic Gastric or Gastro-Esophageal Junction (GEJ) Adenocarcinoma
0%
Common Side Effects
Infusion Reactions
+15%
Cardiotoxicity (LVEF decrease)
+7%
Diarrhea
+15%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 3Phase 4