Esophageal cancer is a serious malignant tumor that mainly occurs in the epithelium or glands of the esophageal mucosa, accounting for 2% of all malignant tumors and over 90% of esophageal tumors. In the retrospective survey of deaths from all malignant tumors, esophageal cancer has the second highest mortality rate after gastric cancer. Approximately 200000 people worldwide lose their lives each year due to esophageal cancer, and China is one of the high-risk areas for esophageal cancer.

The typical symptoms of esophageal cancer include choking, difficulty eating, and swallowing. As the condition progresses, patients may exhibit cachexia such as weight loss and fatigue. The onset age of the disease is more than 40 years old, with more male patients than female patients. However, the incidence rate of patients under 40 years old has increased in recent years. The occurrence of esophageal cancer is related to various factors, including chronic stimulation of nitrosamines, inflammation and trauma, genetic factors, and trace element content in drinking water, food, and vegetables.

For the treatment of esophageal cancer, traditional methods mainly include surgical treatment and radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Surgical treatment is suitable for early and mid stage patients, aiming to achieve radical cure by removing tumors and partial esophageal tissue. However, due to the unclear early symptoms of esophageal cancer, most patients are already in the middle to late stages when diagnosed, making radiotherapy and chemotherapy an important treatment option.

In recent years, new advances have been made in the treatment of esophageal cancer. Radiotherapy, as one of the effective treatment methods for early esophageal cancer, is particularly suitable for cervical and upper thoracic esophageal cancer. For patients in the middle and late stages, interventional therapy provides a new option, especially suitable for patients who cannot undergo surgery or refuse surgery. In addition, immunotherapy has gradually become an important direction for the treatment of esophageal cancer, by activating the patient's own immune system to combat the tumor.

The latest treatment methods also include multiple drug combination therapy regimens, such as the "shuglimab+cisplatin+5-FU" combination regimen, as well as "pembrolizumab+oxaliplatin+fluorouracil" and so on. These schemes have achieved significant therapeutic effects in clinical trials, providing patients with new treatment options.

Overall, esophageal cancer is a serious malignant tumor, but with the continuous advancement of medical technology and the emergence of new treatment methods, it has brought more hope and opportunities to patients.