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10 news highlights to mark Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month
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In addition to IBS Awareness Month, the month of April is also Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month, designated by legislation brought forth by Congressman Bill Posey (R-FL) and Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ) in the U.S. House of Representatives in May 2010.
To mark Esophageal Cancer Awareness Month, Healio Gastroenterology compiled ten recent news items covering research in esophageal cancer and Barrett’s esophagus.
1. Avoiding coffee, tea unlikely to reduce risk for Barrett’ s esophagus
Aaron P. Thrift
“Based on the findings of our study and in light of prior conflicting results for gastroesophageal reflux disease, there are not enough data to support avoidance of caffeine to reduce the risk of developing gastroesophageal reflux disease or Barrett’s esophagus,” Aaron P. Thrift, MD, from the Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, told Healio Gastroenterology. Read more
2. Tumor protein 53 adversely affects survival rates in esophageal cancer
Overall survival rates were found to be reduced in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma who also had the gene mutation tumor protein 53, or TP53, compared with patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma who did not have TP53 as a biomarker.
Furthermore, the association existed in patients independent of tumor stage. Read more
3. Many esophageal cancers missed after negative endoscopy in patients with Barrett’ s esophagus
Siddharth Singh
“Based on a systematic review and meta-analysis of 24 cohort studies in adults with BE ... followed for at least 3 years after negative index endoscopy ..., we observed a high magnitude of missed [esophageal adenocarcinomas] ... diagnosed within 1 year of negative index endoscopy,” Siddharth Singh, MBBS, from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and colleagues wrote. “Additional resources should be allocated to detect missed [esophageal adenocarcinomas].” Read more
4. Esophageal bacteria may be linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Researchers have demonstrated that the presence of the pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis in esophageal mucosa may be associated with an increased risk for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
“These findings provide the first direct evidence that P. gingivalis infection could be a novel risk factor for [esophageal squamous cell carcinoma], and may also serve as a prognostic biomarker for this type of cancer,” Huizhi Wang, MD, PhD, assistant professor of oral immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry in Kentucky, said in a press release. Read more
5. Barrett’s esophagus, persistent low-grade dysplasia increase high-grade dysplasia, cancer risk
Peter D. Siersema
The risk for progression to high-grade dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma was found to be increased in patients with both Barrett’s esophagus and confirmed persistent low-grade dysplasia.
“In this large nationwide cohort of BE patients with LGD, we demonstrate that confirmed and persistent LGD identifies a subgroup of patients with an increased risk of malignant progression,” Peter D. Siersema, MD, PhD, chief of the department of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands, and colleagues wrote. Read more
6. EMR, ESD highly effective for endoscopic resection of early Barrett's esophagus neoplasia
Both endoscopic submucosal dissection and endoscopic mucosal resection were found to be highly effective for endoscopic resection of early Barrett’s esophagus neoplasia and compared similarly regarding need for surgery, although ESD was found to have a higher complete resection rate. Read more
7. Statin use linked to reduced mortality after esophageal cancer diagnosis
Use of statins after a diagnosis of esophageal adenocarcinoma was found to be associated with reduced esophageal cancer-specific and all-cause mortality, according to the results of a large population-based cohort study.
However, researchers did not observe this association in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Read more
8. ASGE endorses real-time imaging-assisted endoscopic targeted biopsy for BE surveillance
Barham K. Abu Dayyeh
Targeted biopsies guided by advanced imaging techniques for detecting dysplasia during surveillance of patients with Barrett’s esophagus met the performance thresholds set by the ASGE PIVI, according to the results of a meta-analysis.
These findings led Barham K. Abu Dayyeh, MD, MPH, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and colleagues on the ASGE Technology Committee to endorse the use of these advanced imaging techniques to guide targeted biopsies for BE surveillance, replacing the current protocols for random biopsy. Read more
9. EMR increases risk for adverse events from radiofrequency ablation for BE dysplasia
Radiofrequency ablation for Barrett’s esophagus-related dysplasia is associated with a fourfold higher risk for adverse events when performed with endoscopic mucosal resection vs. without, according to the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis.
The study also found that BE length and baseline histology were risk factors for adverse events. Read more
10. Management of high-grade dysplasia in patients with Barrett’s esophagus varies significantly in England
A national population-based study in England showed that management of high-grade dysplasia in Barrett’s esophagus varied significantly across the country; about one-third of patients did not receive active treatment. Read more