Understanding where cancer spreads in esophageal cancer surgery

The TIGER study is tracking lymph nodes in people who have had surgery to remove esophageal cancer. Researchers are collecting information from surgery specimens across 18 countries to map where cancer tends to spread and understand which lymph nodes matter most for predicting outcomes.

Many people with esophageal cancer don't know which lymph nodes are most important to treat, and current imaging tests before surgery sometimes miss where cancer has spread. This study will help doctors better understand these patterns so they can plan better treatments and know what to expect after surgery.