What causes esophageal cancer?
What causes esophageal cancer?
The exact cause of esophageal cancer is not known, but there are several risk factors for the disease. Risk factors for esophageal cancer include:
- Older age: Esophageal cancer occurs more often in people older than 60 years than in those aged 60 or younger.
- Male gender: Men are three times more likely to develop the disease than women.
- Ethnicity: Squamous cell esophageal cancer happens more often in African Americans and Asians. Adenocarcinoma happens more often in whites.
- Tobacco use: This includes smoking and using smokeless tobacco.
- Alcohol use: Chronic and/or heavy use of alcohol increases the risk of esophageal cancer.
- Barrett’s esophagus and chronic acid reflux: Barrett’s esophagus is a change in the cells at the lower end of the esophagus that occurs from chronic untreated acid reflux. Even without Barrett’s esophagus, people with long-term heartburn have a higher risk of esophageal cancer.
- Human papilloma virus (HPV): In areas of the world that have a high incidence of esophageal cancer (such as Asia and South Africa), infection with HPV carries an increased risk for developing esophageal squamous cell cancer. HPV is a common virus that can cause tissue changes in the vocal cords and mouth, and on the hands, feet and sex organs.
- Other disorders: Other conditions have been linked to esophageal cancer. These include achalasia, an uncommon disease that causes difficulty swallowing, and tylosis, a rare, inherited disorder in which excess skin grows on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
- Occupational exposure to certain chemicals: People exposed to dry cleaning solvents over long periods of time are at higher risk for esophageal cancer.
- History of cancer: People who have had cancer of the neck or head have a greater risk for esophageal cancer.