Lee J, Chen R, Mohanakumar T, et al. - No consistent driver mutations have been identified in extensive sequencing of esophageal cancer (EC) specimens that can impact treatment strategies. Researchers herein examined activated tyrosine kinase receptors (TKRs) in EC samples as potential targets in the treatment of EC. Activated EGF receptor (EGFR), as well as ErbB2 and ErbB3, were identified using the OE33 esophageal cancer cell line. Treating the OE33 cell line with afatinib, a pan-EGFR family inhibitor resulted in inhibition of the growth of OE33, indicating that the ErbB2 and ErbB3 receptors were contributing to tumor cell proliferation. Afatinib treatment of mice growing OE33 tumors inhibited growth of the OE33 tumor cells.Both cancer cell lines and human esophageal cancer samples had readily detection of activated tyrosine kinase receptors. Tumor growth can be blocked in vitro and in animal xenografts by identifying the activated receptors and then using the appropriate tyrosine kinase inhibitors. As per their proposal, identification and targeting of activated TKRs can be employed as a personalized EC tumor treatment strategy.