Global Gastroesophageal Cancer Treatment Market Research Report: Forecast (2022-2027)

Market Definition

Gastric & esophageal cancers are collectively known as gastroesophageal (GE) cancer and are among the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide. Patients with early-stage GE cancer may experience dyspepsia, anorexia, dysphagia, weight loss, or abdominal pain and are often prescribed a combination of surgery & chemotherapy, with or without radiation.

There are multiple strategies for delivering neoadjuvant & adjuvant chemotherapies; however no existence of any optimal strategy. Surgery remains crucial for esophageal SCC (squamous cell carcinoma), whereas, in metastatic or unresectable diseases, there's a limited impact of traditional SOC (standard-of-care) treatments on patient outcomes.

Market Insights

The Global Gastroesophageal Cancer Treatment Market is projected to grow at around 15.8% CAGR during the forecast period, i.e., 2022-27. The growth of the market is driven primarily by the growing number of tobacco & alcohol consumers, lifestyle disorders, and the increasing prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux diseases (GERDs) & obesity.

The epidemiology of GE cancer has significantly transformed over several years, especially across developed countries. Since there are no early symptoms, esophageal cancer is diagnosed mainly at advanced stages. It owes prominently to heavy smoking & alcohol usage and growing instances of diseases like gastroesophageal reflux, obesity, & gastric ulcer, among others, which increase the risk of developing gastric cancer.

Even with significant developments in multimodality treatments, the prognosis for GE cancer is still inadequate, with a below 20% 5-year survival rate. However, rapid approvals for the combined use of systemic therapies & new targeted agents as first-line treatments are projected to generate growth opportunities for the Global Gastroesophageal Cancer Market through 2027.

Additionally, the remarkable efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors, especially Opdivo & Keytruda, would further augment the market expansion in the nearer future. Various targeted therapies in late-stage development, coupled with easy insurance reimbursements, are also anticipated to boost the market in the years to come.

However, aspects like the high costs of therapies and their adverse effects like mouth sores, loss of appetite, hair loss, diarrhea, etc., which can greatly damage some vital nerves of the body, might hinder the growth of the Global Gastroesophageal Cancer Treatment Market during 2022-27.

Market Segmentation

Based on Treatment:

• Esophagectomy
• Endoscopic Therapy
• Chemotherapy
  • Carboplatin
  • Paclitaxel (Taxol)
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Capecitabine
  • Cisplatin
  • 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)
  • Others
• Radiation Therapy
  • External-Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT)
  • Internal radiation therapy (Brachytherapy)
• Immunotherapy
  • Keytruda (Pembrolizumab)
  • Opdivo (Nivolumab)
  • Yervoy (Ipilimumab)
• Targeted Therapy
  • Trastuzumab
  • Enhertu (Fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan)
  • Ramucirumab
  • Entrectinib
  • Larotrectinib

Amongst all treatments, chemotherapy holds the largest share in the Global Gastroesophageal Cancer Treatment Market. It attributes to its higher cure rates & better efficiency than other therapies. Alongside radiation therapy & surgery, chemotherapy is used widely as an adjuvant treatment for gastroesophageal cancer. 

Irrespective of tumor site & stage, chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy has been the SOC (Standard-of-Care) for gastroesophageal cancer. Cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, capecitabine, & fluorouracil (5-FU) are the prescribed drugs for the stated therapy.

On the other hand, targeted therapies are gaining significant momentum worldwide for the treatment of various cancers, including gastroesophageal cancer, where angiogenesis & HER2 inhibitors are prescribed alongside chemotherapy.

The front-line treatment for HER2-positive cases includes the combination of Trastuzumab & chemotherapy drugs, whereas ramucirumab & paclitaxel are used as a second-line treatment. Various other targeted therapies are also being evaluated for their use in cases like a resectable disease. 

• In 2021, FDA approved Enhertu (conjugate fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan) as the treatment for advanced HER2-positive gastric or GE junction adenocarcinoma in patients with a history of trastuzumab-containing chemotherapy.

In addition, targeted therapies like Andecaliximab, Avelumab (Bavencio), IMAB362, Ipilimumab (Yervoy), Napabucasin, Nimotuzumab, Pamiparib, Regorafenib (Stivarga), Rivoceranib (Apatinib), & Tislelizumab, among others, are in phase III development for gastroesophageal cancer treatment.

Based on Diagnosis:

• Endoscopy
• Biopsy
• Barium Swallow X-ray
• CT/PET Scans
• MRI

Upper endoscopy (esophagogastroduodenoscopy) is the most widely preferred diagnosis for gastroesophageal cancer. It is a fast procedure that helps medical professionals know the extent of the tumor by providing a detailed view of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (beginning of the small intestine).

Sometimes, upper endoscopy is combined alongside other diagnostics, like an ultrasound, in order to produce clear images of the wall of the digestive tract as well as nearby lymph nodes & other structures. It further allows healthcare professionals to look for any tumor signs around the esophagus wall or hard-to-reach organs like the pancreas and know how deep the tumor has grown & whether it has spread to any nearby structures.

Across various countries globally, there is an overall low diagnosis rate for gastroesophageal cancer since it is a rare type of cancer, which portrays late symptoms, including the feeling of food stuck in the throat. However, technological advancements like high-definition & magnification endoscopy, alongside image enhancement, help doctors produce high-quality images & details to identify crucial lesions.

Regional Landscape

Geographically, the Global Gastroesophageal Cancer Treatment Market expands across:

• North America
• South America
• Europe
• Middle East & Africa
• Asia-Pacific

Among all regions globally, Asia-Pacific is expected to register high growth in the Gastroesophageal Cancer Treatment Market during 2022-27. It owes primarily to the growing patient pool of gastrointestinal diseases, coupled with massive investments in the healthcare infrastructure leading to the increasing multispecialty diagnostic centers with specialized cancer treatment options across the region. Moreover, the rapid increase in diagnostic procedures across countries like China, Japan, Indonesia, & Singapore, among others, is also expected to boost the regional market in the coming years.

China has the largest number of patients with gastroesophageal cancer, with limited therapeutics and five targeted therapies approved, viz., AiTan, Opdivo, AiRuiKa, Herceptin, & Keytruda. Nevertheless, various targeted agents like Zolbetuximab (a claudin inhibitor), CS1001, Tyvyt, & Baizean (immune checkpoint inhibitors), and Elunate & Cyramza (VEGF2 inhibitors) are in late-phase trials, the launch of which would propel the market growth across the country through 2027.

Asia-Pacific is experiencing a rapid surge in clinical trials conducted across different countries for novel drugs & medications to treat gastroesophageal cancer. In addition, the aging populations and changing lifestyles & eating habits with increased consumption of fatty foods further project remunerative prospects for the Asia-Pacific Gastroesophageal Market over the forecast years.

Key Questions Answered in the Market Research Report:

1. What are the overall statistics or estimates (Overview, Size- By Value, Forecast Numbers, Segmentation, Shares) of the Global Gastroesophageal Cancer Treatment Market?
2. What are the region-wise industry size, growth drivers, and challenges?
3. What are the key innovations, opportunities, current & future trends, and regulations in the Global Gastroesophageal Cancer Treatment Market?
4. Who are the key competitors, their key strengths & weaknesses, and how do they perform in the Global Gastroesophageal Cancer Treatment Market based on the competitive benchmarking matrix?
5. What are the key results derived from surveys conducted during the Global Gastroesophageal Cancer Treatment Market study?