Identification of genetic drivers for esophageal cancer creates new opportunity for screening, treatment

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a highly lethal cancer, with a five-year survival rate of less than 20%. Although a precursor lesion to EAC, called Barrett’s esophagus (BE), is present in roughly 7% of middle-aged adults, less than 1% of BE patients will progress to EAC, making it difficult to determine which individuals are at risk of developing this deadly cancer.