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Oesophageal and gastric cancer

Squamous versus adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus, gastric cancer risk (H. pylori, CDH1), alarm features and urgent gastroscopy, staging, perioperative FLOT and immunotherapy, biomarker testing in advanced disease, palliation and life after gastrectomy.

Tier 2Condition

Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made

3 questions 9 flashcards

At a glance

Upper GI cancers present late. Most patients have dysphagia, weight loss, anaemia or dyspepsia with alarm features and incurable disease at diagnosis.
Gastroscopy with biopsy is the diagnostic test. Alarm features need it promptly, at any age.
Curable disease is treated with perioperative chemotherapy (FLOT) or chemoradiotherapy plus surgery, planned in an upper GI multidisciplinary team.

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Sources

Al-Batran S-E et al. Gastric and oesophageal cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol 2026 (online October 2026)European Society for Medical Oncology, 2026
Optimal care pathway for people with oesophagogastric cancer (2nd edition)AU/NZCancer Council Australia, 2021
eviQ Cancer Treatments Online: upper gastrointestinal protocolsAU/NZCancer Institute NSW
Hoeppner J et al. Perioperative chemotherapy or preoperative chemoradiotherapy in esophageal cancer (ESOPEC). N Engl J Med 2025;392:323-35New England Journal of Medicine, 2025
Janjigian YY et al. Perioperative durvalumab in gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer (MATTERHORN). N Engl J Med 2025;393:217-30New England Journal of Medicine, 2025
Kelly RJ et al. Adjuvant nivolumab in resected esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer (CheckMate 577). N Engl J Med 2021;384:1191-203New England Journal of Medicine, 2021
Blair VR et al. Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer: updated clinical practice guidelines. Lancet Oncol 2020;21:e386-97Lancet Oncology (International Gastric Cancer Linkage Consortium), 2020

Last updated: 14 November 2026

What changed

14 November 2026 Personal emails, About story and Australian-style copy