New research reveals why some esophageal cancers are so hard to treat

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New research led by Professor Eileen Parkes at the University of Oxford has identified high chromosomal instability as a key feature of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant esophageal cancers. The findings, published in Science Advances, offer new insights into how the body's immune defenses may inadvertently support tumor survival.

New research has uncovered new insights into why the most aggressive esophageal cancers are so difficult to treat and how the body's own defense systems are helping them to thrive. The study, led by Professor Eileen Parkes and her team in the Department of Oncology at the University of Oxford and published in Science Advances, analyzed patient-donated tumor samples and found that the most dangerous types of esophageal cancers share a key feature: high chromosomal instability.