Esophageal cancer: The rise of adenocarcinoma over squamous cell carcinoma in the Asian belt

Esophageal cancer is a common cancer worldwide with a high associated mortality rate. Amongst the two most frequent subsets of disease, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (AC), there has been an epidemiologic shift towards adenocarcinoma over the last few decades. However, squamous cell carcinoma still predominates worldwide. Within Western countries, obesity has been associated with an increase in esophageal AC. A striking report from the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that worldwide obesity has tripled since 1975. In 2016, the WHO reported that greater than 1.9 billion adults are overweight and over 650 million were obese. In this review our goal is to analyze the esophageal cancer trends of China, which is the largest contributor among the esophageal cancer “Asian belt.” Our intent is to evaluate whether there is a correlation between the rise in esophageal adenocarcinoma and obesity in this esophageal cancer “hotspot.” With further analysis, the high-risk populations that are identified can be targeted to implement preventative strategies. This focus will aid in decreasing the burden of esophageal cancer at the global health level by addressing preventative strategies, such as screening endoscopy and lifestyle modifications. For example, WHO developed a global action plan on physical activity in response to the rise in obesity worldwide. Prevention is key to decreasing the rate of esophageal adenocarcinoma as majority of cases are diagnosed in the late stages leading to high mortality rates.