Novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in esophageal cancer.

INTRODUCTION: This article provides an overview of actual biomarkers with an impact on improvement of diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer patients.

AREAS COVERED: Recent literature has been analyzed and provides information regarding the potential role of molecular markers as a diagnostic or prognostic factor in esophageal cancer.

EXPERT OPINION: Until now, the role of molecular markers is far from being firmly established for routine use and is not without obstacles. However, with reliable standardized methods, established cut-off values and promising candidates in marker panels with markers of genetic, epigenetic and proteomic origin might result in a marker tool worthwhile of being validated in large, prospective, randomized trials. Novel validated marker combinations have to be clinically applied to prove their putative role in complementing clinical techniques within the development of better detection concepts of esophageal cancer, improving patients' long-term prognosis by early and purposive therapy within individualized treatment concepts.