The history, experience, opportunities and challenges on esophageal cancer prevention and treatment in Linxian, Henan Province, the high incidence area for esophageal cancer

The history, experience, opportunities and challenges on esophageal cancer prevention and treatment in Linxian, Henan Province, the high incidence area for esophageal cancer
　　The history, experience, opportunities and challenges on esophageal cancer prevention and treatment in Linxian, Henan Province, the high incidence area for esophageal cancer
　　WANG Li-dong^1#, ZHANG Xiao-qian², SONG Xin¹, ZHAO Xue-ke¹, YOU Duo¹, LEI Ling-ling¹, XU Rui-hua¹, HUANG Jin¹, ZHONG Kan¹, BAO Qi-de³
　　1.State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment and Henan Key Laboratory for Esophageal Cancer Research of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China;
　　2.Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China;
　　3.Department of Oncology, Anyang District Hospital, Anyang, Henan, 455000, China
　　Linxian County in Henan Province, northern China has been well known as the region with the highest incidence and mortality rate for esophageal cancer in the world. Since 1959, the Henan medical team has conducted field work on esophageal cancer prevention and treatment in Linxian. Through three generations effort of oncologists for 65 years’ research on esophageal cancer prevention and treatment in Linxian, the incidence rate of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in this area has dropped by nearly half, and the 5-year survival rate has increased to 40%, reaching the international leading level. This article aims to summarize the history of esophageal cancer prevention and treatment, the present opportunities and new challenges, and to explore the experience of esophageal cancer prevention and treatment in Linxian (referred to as the “Linxian experience”), providing reference and guidance for other cancer prevention and treatment research in China.