The direction of travel to better outcomes for patients with oesophago-gastric cancer

Globally, oesophago-gastric cancers account for 10% of cancer incidence and approximately 14% of cancer deaths, with a preponderance in males, and in low and middle-income countries (1). The traditional histological classifications, squamous versus adenocarcinoma, and intestinal versus diffuse, as well as the anatomical delineators (oesophageal, junctional and gastric), are being superseded by molecular-based classifications (2,3). The aim is to identify patients whose outcomes can be improved by the judicious use of standard chemotherapeutic agents and/ or novel targeted therapies.