Introduction and Epidemiology

Oesophageal cancer is the third most common gastrointestinal malignancy worldwide. Over the last 40 years, the UK has seen a rise in prevalence and it is now the 13th most common cancer in adults [1]. It has an incidence of 8,300 new cases each year demonstrating a 2:1 preference for males to females. It is reported that 80 % of new cases are diagnosed in patients over 60 years of age [1]. The distribution of tumour subtype varies according to ethnicity with adenocarcinoma favouring Caucasians and squamous cell carcinomas favouring Asian, South American and African populations [2]. Despite advances in multimodality treatment, oesophageal cancer is still devastatingly aggressive with over 65 % of new cases incurable at time of presentation. The disease maintains a 5-year survival of just 15–20 % [3].