Treatments
TL;DR: 18 FDA-approved drugs have labels that mention esophageal cancer in their indications. Grouped below by mechanism of action. This list gives you the vocabulary — your oncologist chooses a regimen based on your specific subtype, stage, biomarkers, and prior therapies.
Source: OpenFDA drug label API · last checked
Cost transparency
Drugs below have published Medicare Part B or Part D spending figures — what the federal government actually paid per beneficiary in 2023.
Immunotherapy (PD-1 inhibitor)
Immunotherapy (PD-1 inhibitor)
Targeted antibody (HER2)
Figures are average Medicare spending per beneficiary. Out-of-pocket varies by insurance and manufacturer assistance. See all drug costs →
Drugs that activate or modify the immune system to attack cancer cells. Checkpoint inhibitors (targeting PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4) are the most common.
Programmed Death Ligand-1 Blocker [EPC] · Programmed Death Ligand-1 Antagonists [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE IMFINZI is a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) blocking antibody indicated: • in combination with platinum-containing chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment, followed by IMFINZI continued as a single agent as adjuvant…
CTLA-4-directed Blocking Antibody [EPC] · CTLA-4-directed Antibody Interactions [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE YERVOY is a human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4)-blocking antibody indicated for: Melanoma • Treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma in adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older as a single…
Programmed Death Receptor-1 Blocking Antibody [EPC] · Programmed Death Receptor-1-directed Antibody Interactions [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE OPDIVO is a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)-blocking antibody indicated for the treatment of: Melanoma • adult and pediatric (12 years and older) patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma, as a single agen…
Programmed Death Receptor-1 Blocking Antibody [EPC] · Endoglycosidase [EPC]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE OPDIVO QVANTIG is a combination of nivolumab, a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)-blocking antibody, and hyaluronidase, an endoglycosidase, indicated for the treatment of: Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) • adult patients…
Programmed Death Receptor-1 Blocking Antibody [EPC] · Programmed Death Receptor-1-directed Antibody Interactions [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE KEYTRUDA is a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)-blocking antibody indicated: Melanoma for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. ( 1.1 ) for the adjuvant treatment of adult and pediatric…
Endoglycosidase [EPC] · Programmed Death Receptor-1 Blocking Antibody [EPC]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE KEYTRUDA QLEX is a combination of pembrolizumab, a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)-blocking antibody, and berahyaluronidase alfa, an endoglycosidase, indicated: Melanoma for the treatment of adult patients with un…
Programmed Death Receptor-1 Blocking Antibody [EPC] · Programmed Death Receptor-1-directed Antibody Interactions [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE TEVIMBRA is a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)-blocking antibody indicated for: Esophageal Cancer in combination with platinum-containing chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of adults with unresectable or met…
Monoclonal antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that bind specific proteins on cancer cells.
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE ENHERTU is a HER2-directed antibody and topoisomerase inhibitor conjugate indicated: HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer in combination with pertuzumab as first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable o…
HER2/neu Receptor Antagonist [EPC] · HER2/Neu/cerbB2 Antagonists [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Herceptin is a HER2/neu receptor antagonist indicated in adults for: The treatment of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer. ( 1.1 , 1.2 ) The treatment of HER2-overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junct…
HER2/neu Receptor Antagonist [EPC] · HER2/Neu/cerbB2 Antagonists [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE KANJINTI is a HER2/neu receptor antagonist indicated in adults for: the treatment of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer. ( 1.1 , 1.2 ) the treatment of HER2-overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal juncti…
HER2/neu Receptor Antagonist [EPC] · HER2/Neu/cerbB2 Antagonists [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Ogivri is a HER2/neu receptor antagonist indicated in adults for: The treatment of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer. ( 1.1 , 1.2 ) The treatment of HER2-overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction…
HER2/neu Receptor Antagonist [EPC] · HER2/Neu/cerbB2 Antagonists [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE TRAZIMERA is a HER2/neu receptor antagonist indicated in adults for: • The treatment of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer. ( 1.1 , 1.2 ) • The treatment of HER2-overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal j…
Claudin 18.2-directed Cytolytic Antibody [EPC] · Claudin 18.2-directed Antibody Interactions [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE VYLOY, in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adults with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic human epidermal growth factor re…
Cytotoxic drugs that kill rapidly dividing cells. Includes platinums, taxanes, antimetabolites, alkylators, topoisomerase inhibitors, and anthracyclines.
Nucleoside Metabolic Inhibitor [EPC] · Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Capecitabine tablet is a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor indicated for: Colorectal Cancer • adjuvant treatment of patients with Stage III colon cancer as a single agent or as a component of a combination chemotherapy
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Docetaxel injection is a microtubule inhibitor indicated for: Breast Cancer (BC) : single agent for locally advanced or metastatic BC after chemotherapy failure; and with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide as adjuvant
Microtubule Inhibitor [EPC]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Docetaxel Injection is a microtubule inhibitor indicated for: • Breast Cancer (BC): single agent for locally advanced or metastatic BC after chemotherapy failure; and with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide as adjuvant…
Drugs whose pharmacologic class was not automatically classified into the groups above. Check the FDA label for mechanism details.
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE PHOTOFRIN is a photoactivated radical generator indicated for: Esophageal Cancer ( 1.1 ) Palliation of patients with completely obstructing esophageal cancer, or of patients with partially obstructing esophageal canc…
Nucleoside Analog Antiviral [EPC] · Nucleoside Metabolic Inhibitor [EPC]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE LONSURF is a combination of trifluridine, a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor, and tipiracil, a thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor, indicated for the treatment of adult patients with: metastatic colorectal cancer as a si…
Disease foundations below have active funds covering esophageal cancer medications. Manufacturer patient-assistance programs are listed on each drug's cost page.
copay, premium, and deductible assistance for insured patients; fund availability varies by disease
https://www.healthwellfoundation.org/disease-funds/Funds open and close based on availability; check disease-funds page for current status
Trials test new therapies before they are FDA-approved. Often a way to access tomorrow's drugs today.
Back to Esophageal Cancer hub →Stats, second opinions, NCI cancer centers, oncologists.
Understand biomarkers →Most targeted therapies require biomarker testing. Here's what you need to know.
Read your pathology report →Which drugs apply to you depends on what's in your pathology.