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Globally, esophageal cancer is the ninth most common tumor type and seventh leading cause of cancer-related death, however, its incidence fluctuates widely depending on geographical area. While relatively uncommon in Western countries, 50 per cent of patients still present with locally advanced unresectable or distant metastatic disease, where treatment is complicated and chances of a cure are reduced.

While surgery forms the standard of care for early-stage esophageal cancer, survival rates are not very encouraging. Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy can be used for more advanced cases, although for the majority of patients, these modalities serve only palliative purposes. Perhaps in part because of its relatively low incidence in the West, drug development activity targeting this indication has not been as dynamic as in other more populated indications. Consequently, persisting unmet needs provide ample opportunity for agents able to demonstrate incremental clinical benefit.

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