International cancer seminars: a focus on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals adrb1 as a sympathetic nerve-regulated immune checkpoint driving T cell exhaustion and impacting immunotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Background

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) presents significant health challenges due to its aggressive nature and poor prognosis from late-stage diagnosis. Despite these challenges, emerging therapies like immune checkpoint inhibitors offer hope. β1-adrenergic signaling has been implicated in T cell exhaustion, which weakens the immune response in ESCC. Blocking this pathway could restore T cell function. Recent advances in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) have enabled deeper insights into tumor heterogeneity and the immune landscape, opening the door for personalized treatment strategies that may improve survival and reduce resistance to therapy.

Methods

We combined scRNA-seq with bulk RNA analysis to explore adrenergic receptor signaling in ESCC, focusing on changes before and after neoadjuvant therapy. We identified ADRB1+ T cells through data analysis and experimental validation. Copy number variation (CNV) analysis detected malignant cells within scRNA-seq data, while intercellular interaction analysis examined communication between cell populations. Deconvolution of TCGA data revealed key immune populations, which were integrated into a prognostic model based on the adrenergic receptor signaling pathway and differentially expressed genes.

Results

The adrenergic receptor signaling pathway was found in various immune cells, including T cells. scRNA-seq analysis revealed increased ADRB1 expression in T cells after neoadjuvant therapy. Immunofluorescence confirmed colocalization of ADRB1 with T cells, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) showed that ADRB1 expression was elevated alongside exhaustion markers, while immune function markers were reduced. CNV analysis highlighted malignant cells in the tumor microenvironment, and intercellular interaction analysis explored ADRB1+ T cells' role in immune support. Deconvolution of TCGA data identified ADRB1+ T cells, SPP1+ macrophages, and CD44+ malignant cells, all of which were prognostically significant. A prognostic model constructed from the intersection of the adrenergic receptor signaling pathway and differentially expressed genes following neoadjuvant therapy showed a significant prognostic effect.

Conclusions

ADRB1 expression increases after neoadjuvant therapy in ESCC and correlates with poor prognosis. Our findings suggest ADRB1 as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for post-neoadjuvant immunotherapy.

Absolute Risk Prediction for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Adaptable to Regional Disease Burden across Diverse Regions

BACKGROUND

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) exhibits a long latency period and has a significant geographic disparity in incidence, which underscores the need for models predicting the long-term absolute risk adaptable to the regional disease burden.

METHODS

A total of 31,883 participants in a large-scale population-based screening trial (Hua County, China) were enrolled to develop the model. Severe dysplasia and above cases identified at screening or follow-up were defined as the outcome. We calculated the absolute risk in three steps: (i) constructing a relative risk model using logistic regression, (ii) calculating the age-specific baseline hazard, and (iii) adjusting for the competing risk of all-cause death excluding ESCC. Flexible incidence rate parameters were integrated into the model to ensure its relevance across diverse regions worldwide.

RESULTS

A total of 295 severe dysplasia and above cases were detected. The relative risk model consisted of old age, male gender, an irregular meal pattern, a preference for hot or hard food, a BMI of less than 22 kg/m2, and ESCC family history. The AUC was 0.753 (95% confidence interval, 0.749-0.757). The averaged 5-and 10-year absolute risk were 0.53% and 1.30% among participants. Based on our model, we developed an online calculator and incorporated flexible incidence rate parameters, demonstrating ideal risk stratification tailored to regions with varying disease burdens (https://pkugenetics.shinyapps.io/escc_risk_prediction/).

CONCLUSIONS

We developed an absolute risk model to predict individualized long-term risk of ESCC, accounting for the local disease burden.

IMPACT

This model has the potential to mitigate the global burden of ESCC by enabling targeted screening and personalized prevention strategies.

Current status and perspectives of esophageal cancer: a comprehensive review

Esophageal cancer (EC) continues to be a significant global health concern, with two main subtypes: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Prevention and changes in etiology, improvements in early detection, and refinements in the treatment have led to remarkable progress in the outcomes of EC patients in the past two decades. This seminar provides an in-depth analysis of advances in the epidemiology, disease biology, screening, diagnosis, and treatment landscape of esophageal cancer, focusing on the ongoing debate surrounding multimodality therapy. Despite significant advancements, EC remains a deadly disease, underscoring the need for continued research into early detection methods, understanding the molecular mechanisms, and developing effective treatments.

PD-L1 (22C3) expression and prognostic implications in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) clone 22C3 is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved companion diagnostic test for pembrolizumab for the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, prior studies conducted in Asia and Europe have used various PD-L1 antibody clones other than 22C3. We aimed to study the expression profile of PD-L1, specifically of clone 22C3, in ESCC and its significance with regards to histological features, clinical parameters, and overall survival in a case series from two large US hospital systems. PD-L1 (22C3) immunohistochemistry was performed on 82 specimens obtained from 75 patients. Electronic medical records were reviewed to obtain the clinical and follow-up data. Of these specimens, 39 % (32/82) were negative for PD-L1 (22C3) expression (combined positive score (CPS) of 0). The remaining 50 specimens were positive, with CPSs ranging from 1 to 100. Treated specimens showed decreased PD-L1 (22C3) expression compared to untreated specimens. In the multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model, PD-L1 (22C3) expression was shown to be a favorable prognostic factor for overall survival (p = 0.03, hazard ratio 0.16) only when the CPSs were ≥ 25, independent of surgery, definitive chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and initial clinical stages. We performed a comprehensive study to investigate the expression profile of PD-L1 clone 22C3 in the US patients with ESCC. Our analysis showed that PD-L1 (22C3) expression decreased in treated specimens, and a CPS of ≥25 was associated with a favorable prognosis.

Assessing cross-country inequalities in global burden of gastrointestinal cancers: slope and concentration index approach

PURPOSE

New cases and deaths of gastrointestinal cancers are predicted to increase significantly by 2040. This study aims to explore cross-country inequalities and trends in global burdens of colon and rectum cancer (CRC), esophageal cancer (EC) and gastric cancer (GC).

METHODS

Data from the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2019 were analyzed to examine trends in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for three gastrointestinal cancers with estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) and Joinpoint analysis. Inequality in their DALYs rates was assessed with the slope index of inequality and the concentration index, based on the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI).

RESULTS

From 1990 to 2019, the age standardized DALYs rate of CRC decreased in these countries from high and high-middle SDI regions, with the EAPC values of - 1.018% and - 0.161%, respectively, but increased among low, low-middle and middle SDI regions (EAPC = 1.035%, 0.926% and 0.406%, respectively). The age standardized DALYs rates of EC and GC decreased in all SDI regions. Moreover, the slope index changed from 358.42 (95% confidence interval 343.28 to 370.49) to 245.13 (217.47 to 271.24) for CRC, from - 63.88 (- 87.48 to - 48.28) to - 1.36 (- 32.44 to 25.87) for EC, and from 126.37 (101.97 to 146.47) to 58.04 (20.54 to 96.12) for GC. The concentration index for CRC moved from 29.56 (28.99 to 29.84) to 23.90 (23.19 to 24.26), from - 9.47 (- 10.30 to - 9.24) to - 14.64 (- 15.35 to - 14.24) for EC, and from 8.44 (7.85 to 8.72) to - 6.42 (- 7.65 to - 6.12) for GC.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests strong heterogeneity in global DALYs for gastrointestinal cancers across different SDI regions. Higher SDI regions faced a greater burden of CRC, while the burdens of EC and GC were more prevalent in lower SDI regions.

Correlation of Porphyromonas gingivalis with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the correlation of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This systematic review evaluated case-control, cohort, and cross-sectional studies published between 1990 and 2024 that compared ESCC patients and healthy controls regarding the presence of P. gingivalis, risk of ESCC development, overall survival rate and prognosis of ESCC, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage of the disease, cancer cell proliferation and migration, efficacy of chemotherapy, invasion depth, and cell differentiation. Searching process was conducted in Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane Library. The quality of included studies was assessed by the Newcastle Ottawa scale (NOS).

RESULTS

Of 270 articles, 11 underwent a systematic review with NOS scores ranging from 7 to 9. 5 studies found a correlation between P.gingivalis and overall survival rate of ESCC patients (P < 0.05). 5 studies found a significant correlation between P.gingivalis count and the risk of ESCC development (P < 0.05). 2 studies showed a significant correlation between lymph node metastasis and 3 studies showed a significant correlation between clinical TNM stage and P.gingivalis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

High P. gingivalis count increases the risk of development of ESCC, lymph node metastasis, progression to stages 3 and 4, proliferation and migration of cancer cells, and depth of invasion, decreases the overall survival rate and prognosis of the disease, and efficacy of chemotherapy, and results in poorer differentiation of cells.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

According to our findings, dental clinicians and patients should be informed about the significance of oral hygiene and its relationship with ESCC to prevent future life-threatening diseases.

Microbiome of esophageal endoscopic wash samples is associated with resident flora in the esophagus and incidence of cancer

Change in mucosal microbiome is associated with various types of cancer in digestive tract. We hypothesized that microbial communities in the esophageal endoscopic wash fluids reflects resident flora in esophageal mucosa that is associated with esophageal carcinoma (EC) risk and/or directly correlates microbiome derived from EC tumor tissue. Studying microbial communities in esophageal endoscopic wash samples would be therefore useful to predict the incidence or risk of EC. We examined microbial communities of the endoscopic wash samples from 45 primary EC and 20 respective non-EC controls using 16S rRNA V3-V4 amplicon sequencing. The result was also compared with microbial communities in matched endoscopic biopsies from EC and non-cancerous esophageal mucosa. Compared with non-EC controls, 6 discriminative bacterial genera were detected in EC patients. Among them, relative abundance ratio of Prevotella and Shuttlewarthia, as well as decrease of genus Prevotella presented good prognostic performance to discriminate EC from controls (area under curve, 0.86, 0.82, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed occurrence of EC was an independent factor associated with decrease of this bacteria. Abundance of genus Prevotella in the esophageal endoscopic wash samples was significantly correlated with the abundance of this bacteria in the matched endoscopic biopsies from non-cancerous esophageal mucosa but not in the EC tissues. Our findings suggest that microbiome composition in the esophageal endoscopic wash samples reflects resident flora in the esophagus and significantly correlates with the incidence of EC.

The Uncharted Territories of Esophageal Cancer with Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Metastasis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background: Esophageal cancer (EC) comprises 1% of all diagnosed cancers in the USA. It is more common in other parts of the world. If there is distant metastasis, the relative survival rate is 6%. There are no standardized screening methods for EC. Case Presentation: We reported a four-year case of esophageal cancer, a P53-positive mutation with atypical distant metastasis to the cardiac and skeletal muscles. The patient was managed with multimodal therapy, including immunotherapy, which could have been a factor in prolonged survival. Conclusions: Distant metastases are typically seen postmortem, and with prolonged survival, we are able to find such unique metastases antemortem. Despite a history of negative scans, the patient's ctDNA (circulating tumor DNA) remained positive, which was a better predictor of recurrence in this case. Future research is required to establish cost-effective screening methods and standardized treatments.

Latest insights into the global epidemiological features, screening, early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

As a highly invasive carcinoma, esophageal cancer (EC) was the eighth most prevalent malignancy and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide in 2020. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the major histological subtype of EC, and its incidence and mortality rates are decreasing globally. Due to the lack of specific early symptoms, ESCC patients are usually diagnosed with advanced-stage disease with a poor prognosis, and the incidence and mortality rates are still high in many countries, especially in China. Therefore, enormous challenges still exist in the management of ESCC, and novel strategies are urgently needed to further decrease the incidence and mortality rates of ESCC. Although the key molecular mechanisms underlying ESCC pathogenesis have not been fully elucidated, certain promising biomarkers are being investigated to facilitate clinical decision-making. With the advent and advancement of high-throughput technologies, such as genomics, proteomics and metabolomics, valuable biomarkers with high sensitivity, specificity and stability could be identified for ESCC. Herein, we aimed to determine the epidemiological features of ESCC in different regions of the world, especially in China, and focused on novel molecular biomarkers associated with ESCC screening, early diagnosis and prognosis prediction.

Effectiveness of Endoscopic Screening on Esophageal Cancer Incidence and Mortality: A 9-Year Report of the Endoscopic Screening for Esophageal Cancer in China (ESECC) Randomized Trial

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effectiveness of endoscopic screening against incidence of and mortality from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS

From January 2012 to September 2016, we conducted a community-based cluster randomized controlled trial involving permanent residents age 45-69 years in a high-risk region for ESCC in northern China. A total of 668 targeted villages were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the screening group (offered Lugol's chromoendoscopy) or control group (no screening). Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses were performed to compare esophageal cancer (EC) incidence and mortality between the two groups. The per-protocol analysis adjusted for nonadherence to the screening procedure.

RESULTS

A total of 33,847 participants were included in the analysis: 17,104 in the screening group, 15,165 (88.7%) of whom underwent screening, and 16,743 in the control group. During a maximum follow-up of 9 years, EC incidence in the screening and control groups were 60.9 and 72.5 per 100,000 person-years, respectively; mortality in the screening and control groups were 29.7 and 32.4 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. Compared with the control group, the incidence and mortality of the screening group reduced by 19% (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.81 [95% CI, 0.60 to 1.09]) and 18% (aHR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.53 to 1.26]), respectively, in the intention-to-treat analysis; and by 22% (aHR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.56 to 1.10]) and 21% (aHR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.49 to 1.30]), respectively, in the per-protocol analysis.

CONCLUSION

With a 9-year follow-up, our trial suggests that chromoendoscopic screening induces modest reductions in EC incidence and mortality. A more efficient strategy for EC screening and subsequent patient management should be established to guarantee the effectiveness of endoscopic screening.

The m6A reader IGF2BP2 promotes the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells by increasing the stability of OCT4 mRNA

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common malignancy with high morbidity and mortality. Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) serves as a reader of RNA m6A (N6 methyladenosine) modification to regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Emerging evidence suggests that IGF2BP2 plays critical roles in tumorigenesis and malignant development. However, the biological function and molecular mechanism of IGF2BP2 in ESCC are not well understood. Here, we found that IGF2BP2 expression was upregulated in esophageal cancer tissues and ESCC cells, and IGF2BP2 overexpression enhanced proliferation, migration, invasion, and stem cell-like properties of ESCC cells. Conversely, the knockdown of IGF2BP2 expression inhibited malignant phenotype of ESCC cells. Mechanistically, IGF2BP2 upregulated octomer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4) mRNA expression, and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay proved that IGF2BP2 could interact with OCT4 mRNA. Moreover, OCT4 was modified at m6A confirmed by methylated m6A RNA immunoprecipitation (Me-RIP)-qPCR assay, and IGF2BP2 knockdown reduced OCT4 mRNA stability. These results suggested that IGF2BP2 served as a reader for m6A-modified OCT4, thus increased OCT4 mRNA expression by regulating its stability. Furthermore, the knockdown of OCT4 could reverse the effects of IGF2BP2 on ESCC cells. In conclusion, these data indicate that IGF2BP2, as a reader for m6A, plays an oncogenic role by regulating OCT4 expression in ESCC, which provides new insights into targeting IGF2BP2/OCT4 axis for the therapy of ESCC.

Comparison of early postoperative pulmonary complications between two-lung ventilation with artificial pneumothorax and one-lung ventilation with bronchial blockade in patients undergoing minimally invasive esophagectomy: a retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study

Background

Two-lung ventilation (TLV) with artificial carbon dioxide (CO2) pneumothorax is used during the thoracoscopic phase of minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE). However, the impact of TLV with artificial pneumothorax on postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) after MIE is unclear. This study aimed to compare the incidence of early PPCs between TLV with CO2 pneumothorax and one-lung ventilation (OLV) with bronchial blockade in patients undergoing MIE.

Methods

Five hundred ninety-three patients with esophageal cancer who underwent elective MIE with two-field lymph node dissection were analyzed. Patients in the TLV group were intubated using a single-lumen endotracheal tube and underwent surgery using TLV with artificial CO2 pneumothorax. Patients in the OLV group underwent surgery using OLV with a bronchial blocker. Patient characteristics and intraoperative and PPC data were collected and analyzed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to reduce confounding bias.

Results

The TLV and OLV group comprised 513 and 80 patients, respectively. PSM matched 197 TLV group and 73 OLV group patients. Incidence of pneumonia within the first 3 days of surgery was higher in the TLV group (11.7% vs. 4.1%) but the difference was not significant (P=0.06). The incidence of infiltrates on chest radiography was 36.0% in the TLV group and 28.8% in the OLV group (P=0.26). Incidence of other major PPCs requiring treatment and major non-pulmonary postoperative complications did not significantly differ between the groups. Length of hospital stay was significantly longer in the TLV group (13.0 vs. 11.0 days; P=0.03).

Conclusions

Compared with OLV with bronchial blockade, TLV with CO2 pneumothorax did not reduce the incidence of early PPCs after MIE.

Characteristics of the oral and gastric microbiome in patients with early-stage intramucosal esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Oral microbiome dysbacteriosis has been reported to be associated with the pathogenesis of advanced esophageal cancer. However, few studies investigated the potential role of oral and gastric microbiota in early-stage intramucosal esophageal squamous carcinoma (EIESC).

METHOD

A total of 104 samples were collected from 31 patients with EIESC and 21 healthy controls. The compositions of oral and gastric microbiota were analyzed using 16 S rRNA V3-V4 amplicon sequencing. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis was performed to assess taxonomic differences between groups. The correlation between oral microbiota and clinicopathological factors was evaluated using Spearman correlation analysis. Additionally, co-occurrence networks were established and random forest models were utilized to identify significant microbial biomarkers for distinguishing between the EIESC and control groups.

RESULTS

A total of 292 oral genera and 223 species were identified in both EIESC and healthy controls. Six oral genera were remarkably enriched in EIESC groups, including the genera Porphyromonas, Shigella, Subdoligranulum, Leptotrichia, Paludibacter, and Odoribacter. LEfSe analysis identified genera Porphyromonas and Leptotrichia with LDA scores > 3. In the random forest model, Porphyromonas endodontalis ranked the top microbial biomarker to differentiate EIESC from controls. The elimination rate of Porphyromonas endodontalis from the oral cavity to the stomach was also dramatically decreased in the EIESC group than controls. In the microbial co-occurrence network, Porphyromonas endodontalis was positively correlated with Prevotella tannerae and Prevotella intermedia and was negatively correlated with Veillonella dispar.

CONCLUSION

Our study potentially indicates that the dysbacteriosis of both the oral and gastric microbiome was associated with EIESC. Larger scale studies and experimental animal models are urgently needed to confirm the possible role of microbial dysbacteriosis in the pathogenesis of EIESC. (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Center, ChiCTR2200063464, Registered 07 September 2022, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=178563).

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, and tobacco-specific nitrosamines and incidence of esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

Studying carcinogens in tobacco and nontobacco sources may be key to understanding the pathogenesis and geographic distribution of esophageal cancer.

METHODS

The Golestan Cohort Study has been conducted since 2004 in a region with high rates of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. For this nested study, the cases comprised of all incident cases by January 1, 2018; controls were matched to the case by age, sex, residence, time in cohort, and tobacco use. We measured urinary concentrations of 33 exposure biomarkers of nicotine, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, and tobacco-specific nitrosamines. We used conditional logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for associations between the 90th vs the 10th percentiles of the biomarker concentrations and incident esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

RESULTS

Among individuals who did not currently use tobacco (148 cases and 163 controls), 2 acrolein metabolites, 2 acrylonitrile metabolites, 1 propylene oxide metabolite, and one 1,3-butadiene metabolite were significantly associated with incident esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (adjusted odds ratios between 1.8 and 4.3). Among tobacco users (57 cases and 63 controls), metabolites of 2 other volatile organic compounds (styrene and xylene) were associated with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OR = 6.2 and 9.0, respectively). In tobacco users, 2 tobacco-specific nitrosamines (NNN and N'-Nitrosoanatabine) were also associated with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Suggestive associations were seen with some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (especially 2-hydroxynaphthalene) in nonusers of tobacco products and other tobacco-specific nitrosamines in tobacco users.

CONCLUSION

These novel associations based on individual-level data and samples collected many years before cancer diagnosis, from a population without occupational exposure, have important public health implications.

Non-endoscopic Screening for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Recent Advances

BACKGROUND

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common tumors in the gastrointestinal tract, and China has a high incidence area with a high burden on the disease. As early symptoms of ESCC are not obvious, the mortality rate is high, and it is often diagnosed in the intermediate and advanced stages. However, early screening and treatment may reduce morbidity and mortality.

METHODS

Screening methods are divided into endoscopic and non-endoscopic screening.

RESULTS

Endoscopic screening cannot be widely used because of its invasive nature and high cost. Currently, non-endoscopic screening consists primarily of tumor biomarkers and cytology, and tumor biomarkers including autoantibodies, circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, exosomes and serum metabolomics are more likely to be effective. But the efficiency of early diagnosis of esophageal cancer is low and the accuracy of screening needs to be improved. The aim of this study is to summarize advances in non-endoscopic esophageal cancer screening and strategies to provide a scientific basis and research idea for esophageal cancer prevention and control.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-endoscopic screening is better than endoscopic screening. And the application of tumor biomarkers is much better than other non-endoscopic screening methods.

Global, regional, and national lifetime risks of developing and dying from gastrointestinal cancers in 185 countries: a population-based systematic analysis of GLOBOCAN

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal cancers account for a quarter of the global cancer incidence and a third of cancer-related deaths. We sought to estimate the lifetime risks of developing and dying from gastrointestinal cancers at the country, world region, and global levels in 2020.

METHODS

For this population-based systematic analysis, we obtained estimates of gastrointestinal cancer incidence and mortality rates from GLOBOCAN for 185 countries, alongside all-cause mortality and population data from the UN. Countries were categorised into quartiles of the Human Development Index (HDI). The lifetime risk of gastrointestinal cancers was estimated with a standard method that adjusts for multiple primaries, taking into account competing risks of death from causes other than cancer and life expectancy.

FINDINGS

The global lifetime risks of developing and dying from gastrointestinal cancers from birth to death was 8·20% (95% CI 8·18-8·21) and 6·17% (6·16-6·18) in 2020. For men, the risk of developing gastrointestinal cancers was 9·53% (95% CI 9·51-9·55) and of dying from them 7·23% (7·22-7·25); for women, the risk of developing gastrointestinal cancers was 6·84% (6·82-6·85) and of dying from them 5·09% (5·08-5·10). Colorectal cancer presented the highest risk, accounting for 38·5% of the total lifetime risk of developing, and 28·2% of dying from, gastrointestinal cancers, followed by cancers of the stomach, liver, oesophagus, pancreas, and gallbladder. Eastern Asia has the highest lifetime risks for cancers of the stomach, liver, oesophagus, and gallbladder, Australia and New Zealand for colorectal cancer, and Western Europe for pancreatic cancer. The lifetime risk of gastrointestinal cancers increased consistently with increasing level of HDI; however, high HDI countries (the third HDI quartile) had the highest death risk.

INTERPRETATION

The global lifetime risk of gastrointestinal cancers translates to one in 12 people developing, and one in 16 people dying from, gastrointestinal cancers. The identified high risk and observed disparities across countries warrants context-specific targeted gastrointestinal cancer control and health systems planning.

FUNDING

Beijing Nova Program, CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences, and Talent Incentive Program of Cancer Hospital, CAMS (Hope Star).

CircGFPT1 regulates the growth and apoptosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through miR-142-5p/HAX1 axis

BACKGROUND

Currently, multiple circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been verified to act as essential regulators in the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, there is no study regarding the role of circGFPT1 in the progression of cancers including ESCC. We aimed to investigate the role of circGFPT1 in ESCC progression.

METHODS

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was utilized to measure the expression of circGFPT1, miR-142-5p and HS1-associated protein X-1 (HAX1). 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays were employed to evaluate cell proliferation. Cell migration and invasion were detected by wound-healing and transwell assays. Flow cytometry analysis was conducted to assess cell apoptosis. The protein expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, C-caspase3, HAX1 and nuclear proliferation marker (Ki67) was analyzed by western blot or immunohistochemistry assay.

RESULTS

CircGFPT1 was up-regulated in ESCC tissues and cells. Silencing of circGFPT1 repressed cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis in ESCC cells. CircGFPT1 acted as a sponge of miR-142-5p. The effects of circGFPT1 knockdown on ESCC cell proliferation and apoptosis were reversed by miR-142-5p inhibition. HAX1 was confirmed to be a target gene of miR-142-5p. CircGFPT1 knockdown inhibited HAX1 expression by targeting miR-142-5p. Additionally, circGFPT1 knockdown hampered tumorigenesis in vivo.

CONCLUSION

CircGFPT1 promoted ESCC cell growth and repressed apoptosis by up-regulating HAX1 through sponging miR-142-5p.

Autophagy and nuclear morphometry are associated with histopathologic features in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Less than 15% of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) survive 5 years after diagnosis. A better understanding of the biology of these tumors and the development of clinical biomarkers is needed. Autophagy is a physiological mechanism involved in the turnover of cellular components that plays a key role in cancer. This study evaluated the differential levels of three key regulators of autophagy (SQSTM1, MAP1LC3B, and BECN1) in patients with ESCC, associating autophagy with histopathologic features, including the grade of differentiation, mitotic rate, inflammation score, and the intensity of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Nuclear morphometry of the tumor parenchyma was also assessed, associating it with autophagy and histopathology. All three markers significantly increased in patients with ESCC compared to the control group. Based on the mean expression of each protein in the control group, 57% of patients with ESCC had high levels of all three markers compared to control patients (14%). The most frequent profiles found in ESCC were BECNhigh/MAP1LC3high and BECNhigh/SQSTM1high. According to the TCGA database, we found that the main autophagy genes were upregulated in ESCC. Moreover, high levels of autophagy markers were associated with a poor prognosis. Considering nuclear morphometry, ESCC samples showed a significant reduction in nuclear area, which was strongly negatively correlated with autophagy. Finally, the percentage of normal nuclei was associated with tumor differentiation, while poorly differentiated tumors showed lower SQSTM1 levels. ESCC progression may involve increased autophagy and changes in nuclear structure, associated with clinically relevant histopathological features. KEY MESSAGES: Autophagy markers are co-increased in primary ESCC. Autophagy negatively correlates with nuclear morphometry in ESCC parenchyma. Autophagy and nuclear morphometry are associated with histopathological features. Autophagy is increased in ESCC-TCGA database and associated with poor prognosis.

Iron, Copper, and Magnesium Concentration in Hair and Risk of Esophageal Cancer: A Nested Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND

An association has already been hypothesized between iron, copper, and magnesium status assessed through food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) and the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, self-reported dietary assessment methods are prone to measurement errors. We studied the association between iron, copper, and magnesium status and ESCC risk, using hair samples as a long exposure biomarker.

METHODS

We designed a nested case-control study within the Golestan Cohort Study, that recruited about 50000 participants in 2004-2008, and collected biospecimens at baseline. We identified 96 incident cases of ESCC with available hair samples. They were age-matched with cancer-free controls from the cohort. We used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to measure iron, copper, and magnesium concentrations in hair samples. We used multiple logistic regression models to determine odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Median concentrations of iron, copper, and magnesium were 35.4, 19.3, and 41.7 ppm in cases and 25.8, 18.3, and 50.0 ppm in controls, respectively. Iron was significantly associated with the risk of ESCC in continuous analysis (OR=1.41, 95% CI=1.03-1.92), but not in the tertiles analyses (ORT3 vs. T1=1.81, 95% CI=0.77-4.28). No associations were observed between copper and magnesium and ESCC risk, in either the tertiles models or the continuous estimate (copper: ORT3 vs. T1=2.56, 95% CI=1.00-6.54; magnesium: ORT3 vs. T1=0.75, 95% CI=0.32-1.78).

CONCLUSION

Higher iron status may be related to a higher risk of ESCC in this population.

Application Value of Antimicrobial Peptides in Gastrointestinal Tumors

Gastrointestinal cancer is a common clinical malignant tumor disease that seriously endangers human health and lacks effective treatment methods. As part of the innate immune defense of many organisms, antimicrobial peptides not only have broad-spectrum antibacterial activity but also can specifically kill tumor cells. The positive charge of antimicrobial peptides under neutral conditions determines their high selectivity to tumor cells. In addition, antimicrobial peptides also have unique anticancer mechanisms, such as inducing apoptosis, autophagy, cell cycle arrest, membrane destruction, and inhibition of metastasis, which highlights the low drug resistance and high specificity of antimicrobial peptides. In this review, we summarize the related studies on antimicrobial peptides in the treatment of digestive tract tumors, mainly oral cancer, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer. This paper describes the therapeutic advantages of antimicrobial peptides due to their unique anticancer mechanisms. The length, net charge, and secondary structure of antimicrobial peptides can be modified by design or modification to further enhance their anticancer effects. In summary, as an emerging cancer treatment drug, antimicrobial peptides need to be further studied to realize their application in gastrointestinal cancer diseases.

NSG1 promotes glycolytic metabolism to enhance Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma EMT process by upregulating TGF-β

As a highly enriched endosomal protein within neuronal cells, NSG1 has been discovered to facilitate the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the precise mechanisms behind this phenomenon have yet to be elucidated. The pivotal role of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in triggering the EMT and its significant contribution towards tumor metabolic reprogramming-responsible for EMT activation-has been robustly established. Nevertheless, the extent of TGF-β involvement in the NSG1-mediated EMT within ESCC and the processes through which metabolic reprogramming participates remain ambiguous. We accessed an array of extensive public genome databases to analyze NSG1 expression in ESCC. Regulation of TGF-β by NSG1 was analyzed by transcriptome sequencing, quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR), co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP), and immunofluorescence (IF). Additionally, cellular functional assays and western blot analyses were conducted to elucidate the effect of NSG1 on TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, as well as its role in ESCC cell metastasis and proliferation. We validated the influence of the NSG1/TGF-β axis on metabolic reprogramming in ESCC by measuring extracellular acidification, glucose uptake, and lactate production. Our findings identify an oncogenic role for NSG1 in ESCC and show a correlation between high NSG1 expression and poor prognosis in ESCC patients. Additional research indicated TGF-β's involvement in the NSG1-induced EMT process. From a mechanistic perspective, NSG1 upregulates TGF-β, activating the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway and subsequently fostering the EMT process by inducing cell metabolic reprogramming-evident from elevated glycolysis levels. In conclusion, our study highlights the NSG1/TGF-β axis as a promising therapeutic target for ESCC.

Role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in the progression, therapeutic resistance and targeted therapy of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most aggressive malignant tumours with high morbidity and mortality. Although surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are common treatment options available for oesophageal cancer, the 5-year survival rate remains low after treatment. On the one hand, many oesophageal cancers are are discovered at an advanced stage and, on the other hand, treatment resistance is a major obstacle to treating locally advanced ESCC. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the main type of stromal cell in the tumour microenvironment, enhance tumour progression and treatment resistance and have emerged as a major focus of study on targeted therapy of oesophageal cancer.With the aim of providing potential, prospective targets for improving therapeutic efficacy, this review summarises the origin and activation of CAFs and their specific role in regulating tumour progression and treatment resistance in ESCC. We also emphasize the clinical potential and emerging trends of ESCC CAFs-targeted treatments.

A Genomic Analysis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Eastern Africa

BACKGROUND

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) comprises 90% of all esophageal cancer cases globally and is the most common histology in low-resource settings. Eastern Africa has a disproportionately high incidence of ESCC.

METHODS

We describe the genomic profiles of 61 ESCC cases from Tanzania and compare them to profiles from an existing cohort of ESCC cases from Malawi. We also provide a comparison to ESCC tumors in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

RESULTS

We observed substantial transcriptional overlap with other squamous histologies via comparison with TCGA PanCan dataset. DNA analysis revealed known mutational patterns, both genome-wide as well as in genes known to be commonly mutated in ESCC. TP53 mutations were the most common somatic mutation in tumors from both Tanzania and Malawi but were detected at lower frequencies than previously reported in ESCC cases from other settings. In a combined analysis, two unique transcriptional clusters were identified: a proliferative/epithelial cluster and an invasive/migrative/mesenchymal cluster. Mutational signature analysis of the Tanzanian cohort revealed common signatures associated with aging and cytidine deaminase activity (APOBEC) and an absence of signature 29, which was previously reported in the Malawi cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

This study defines the molecular characteristics of ESCC in Tanzania, and enriches the Eastern African dataset, with findings of overall similarities but also some heterogeneity across two unique sites.

IMPACT

Despite a high burden of ESCC in Eastern Africa, investigations into the genomics in this region are nascent. This represents the largest comprehensive genomic analysis ESCC from sub-Saharan Africa to date.

TAOK3 Facilitates Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression and Cisplatin Resistance Through Augmenting Autophagy Mediated by IRGM

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the deadliest cancers because of its robust aggressive phenotype and chemoresistance. TAO kinase belongs to mitogen-activated protein kinases, which mediate drug resistance in multiple cancers. However, the role of TAO kinase in ESCC progression and chemoresistance has never been explored. Here, it is reported that TAOK3 augments cell autophagy and further promotes ESCC progression and chemoresistance. Mechanistically, TAOK3 phosphorylates KMT2C at S4588 and strengthens the interaction between KMT2C and ETV5. Consequently, the nuclear translocation of KMT2C is increased, and the transcription of autophagy-relevant gene IRGM is further upregulated. Additionally, the inhibitor SBI-581 can significantly suppress cell autophagy mediated by TAOK3 and synergizes with cisplatin to treat ESCC in vitro and in vivo.

Environmental and life-style risk factors for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The African Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) corridor, which spans from Ethiopia down to South Africa, is an esophageal cancer hotspot. Disproportionately high incidence and mortality rates of esophageal cancer have been reported from this region. The aim of this study was to systematically assess the evidence on environmental and life-style risk factors associated with ESCC in African populations.

METHODS

We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and carried out a comprehensive search of all African published studies up to March 2023 using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and African Index Medicus databases.

RESULTS

We identified 45 studies with measures of association [odds ratio (OR), relative risk (RR), and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI)], which reported on several environmental and lifestyle risk factors for ESCC in Africa. We performed a meta-analysis on 38 studies investigating tobacco, alcohol use, combined tobacco and alcohol use, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure, hot food and beverages consumption (which served as a proxy for esophageal injury through exposure to high temperature), and poor oral health. We found significant associations between all the risk factors and ESCC development. Analysis of fruit and vegetable consumption showed a protective effect. Using population attributable fraction (PAF) analysis, we calculated the proportion of ESCC attributable to tobacco (18%), alcohol use (12%), combined tobacco and alcohol use (18%), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure (12%), hot food and beverages intake (16%), poor oral health (37%), and fruit and vegetable consumption (-12%).

CONCLUSIONS

Tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption were the most studied risk factors overall. Areas where there is an emerging body of evidence include hot food and beverages and oral health. Concurrently, new avenues of research are also emerging in PAH exposure, and diet as risk factors. Our results point to a multifactorial etiology of ESCC in African populations with further evidence on prevention potential.

Why Am I Ill? Beliefs in Supernatural and Natural Causes of Ill Health at the Time of Diagnostic Workup of Patients With Esophageal Cancer in Tanzania

PURPOSE

An understanding of the cultural and context-specific perceptions of the causes of cancer is an important prerequisite for designing effective primary health prevention and early detection strategies. We aimed to use the Murdock Ill Health Theoretical Model to conceptualize views on illness causation among dysphagia-suffering patients undergoing diagnostic workup for esophageal cancer (EC) in Tanzania.

METHODS

At the end of a structured interview on lifestyle habits, patients with suspected EC were asked about beliefs on the reasons behind their illness through (1) a set of questions with fixed binary answers, whose determinants were analyzed using logistic regression, and (2) a single question with free-text answers. Responses were coded using a hierarchy of natural and supernatural (godly and social constructs) causes.

RESULTS

Among 322 patients interviewed between November 2015 and December 2019, we found complex and varied views about the origins of their illness. Overall, 49% of patients attributed illness to natural causes and 39% to supernatural causes. Natural causes ranged from infection, use of alcohol and tobacco, other ailments, and the environment. The supernatural causes included attributing illness to God, curses, and spells from personal acquaintances. Belief in supernatural causes was more common in the less educated and those who sought help first via a traditional healer.

CONCLUSION

The results underscore the need for increased community awareness of biomedical causes of ill health and patient-based participatory research to inform prevention programs. The results also highlight the importance of building health systems that support a series of health-seeking behaviors that acknowledge both biomedical and local traditional healing belief systems.

Elafin as a Prognostic Marker in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Pilot Study Using Three-Dimensional Imaging and Genomic Profiling

Esophageal cancers are globally the sixth deadliest malignancy, with limited curative options. The association of high serum elafin levels, a molecule produced by epithelial cells, with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) risk is established, but its link to poor ESCC prognosis remains unclear. To explore this question, we first used three-dimensional confocal imaging to create a model of the spatial distribution of elafin inside locoregional ESCC tissues. Then, after analyzing data obtained from whole-genome microarrays for ESCC cell lines and their more invasive sublines, we performed in vitro experiments using RNA sequencing to identify possible elafin-related pathways. Three-dimensional tissue imaging showed elafin distributed as an interweaved-like fibrous structure in the stroma of tissue obtained from patients with high serum levels of elafin and poorer prognoses. By contrast, the signal was confined inside or around the tumor nest in patients who had lower serum levels and better survival. The analysis of a TCGA dataset revealed that higher levels of elafin mRNA in stage I-IIIA ESCC patients were associated with shorter survival. The in vitro studies revealed that elafin promoted ESCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via the epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathway. Thus, elafin inhibition could potentially be used therapeutically to improve survival in patients with locoregional ESCC.

Intact regulation of G1/S transition renders esophageal squamous cell carcinoma sensitive to PI3Kα inhibitors

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase alpha (PI3Kα) inhibitors are currently evaluated for the therapy of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). It is of great importance to identify potential biomarkers to predict or monitor the efficacy of PI3Kα inhibitors in an aim to improve the clinical responsive rate in ESCC. Here, ESCC PDXs with CCND1 amplification were found to be more sensitive to CYH33, a novel PI3Kα-selective inhibitor currently in clinical trials for the treatment of advanced solid tumors including ESCC. Elevated level of cyclin D1, p21 and Rb was found in CYH33-sensitive ESCC cells compared to those in resistant cells. CYH33 significantly arrested sensitive cells but not resistant cells at G1 phase, which was associated with accumulation of p21 and suppression of Rb phosphorylation by CDK4/6 and CDK2. Hypo-phosphorylation of Rb attenuated the transcriptional activation of SKP2 by E2F1, which in turn hindered SKP2-mediated degradation of p21 and reinforced accumulation of p21. Moreover, CDK4/6 inhibitors sensitized resistant ESCC cells and PDXs to CYH33. These findings provided mechanistic rationale to evaluate PI3Kα inhibitors in ESCC patients harboring amplified CCND1 and the combined regimen with CDK4/6 inhibitors in ESCC with proficient Rb.

Epidemiological landscape of esophageal cancer in Asia: Results from GLOBOCAN 2020

BACKGROUND

Esophageal cancer (EC) is a global health problem. Asia represents a huge burden of EC globally, and incidence and mortality vary considerably across different Asian regions.

METHODS

Data on incidence, mortality, and preference were extracted from GLOBOCAN 2020. Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates were calculated overall by sex, age, country, region, and continent. The predicted burden of incidence and mortality in 2040 was calculated based on global demographic projections.

RESULTS

It was estimated there were 481 552 new cases of and 434 363 deaths from EC in Asia in 2020, accounting for 79.7% and 79.8% of world EC cases and deaths, respectively. EC incidence and mortality in Asia ranked the highest among all continents. Eastern Asia represents the highest age-standardized world incidence rate (ASWIR) of 12.3 per 100 000 for all Asian regions. Western Asia represents the lowest ASWIR of 1.7 per 100 000, accounting for 0.7% of the globe. There exist obvious differences in epidemiological features in Asian countries, including incidence, mortality, prevalence, and mortality incidence ratio. There is forecast to be up to 781 000 new cases of EC in Asia by 2040, with increasing rates of 63% for incidence and 72% for mortality from 2020.

CONCLUSIONS

Asia has an increasing number of EC cases and deaths. Strategies for targeting in high-incidence areas, the elderly, and survival should be prioritized to reduce the global EC burden, especially in low- and middle-income countries in Asia.

Pembrolizumab for first-line treatment of advanced unresectable or metastatic esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the seventh most common malignancy worldwide. Although systemic chemotherapy is the standard treatment for advanced EC, the available cytotoxic agents have limited efficacy. Pembrolizumab, a humanized monoclonal immunoglobulin G4 antibody that inhibits programmed cell death protein 1, has recently been developed for the treatment of patients with advanced EC. In the KEYNOTE-181 trial, pembrolizumab achieved a clinical meaningful overall survival benefit over chemotherapy alone when used as second-line treatment in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who had a combined positive score ⩾10 for expression of programmed death ligand 1. Furthermore, KEYNOTE-590 showed that pembrolizumab + chemotherapy was more effective than chemotherapy alone as first-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced EC. Accordingly, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) chemotherapy has become the standard first-line treatment for advanced EC. The use of ICIs in primary therapy has helped to improve the prognosis, especially for ESCC. Moreover, in CheckMate 577, patients who received postoperative nivolumab therapy had a reduced risk of recurrence, and the ability of preoperative ICI chemotherapy to reduce the incidence of recurrence is now under investigation. This review outlines the evidence for use of pembrolizumab as a first-line treatment for advanced unresectable or metastatic EC, summarizes the ongoing research on ICI combination chemotherapy, and discusses the associated issues.

Pre-existing and new-onset depression among patients undergoing esophageal cancer surgery: a nationwide cohort study in South Korea

BACKGROUND

Esophageal cancer is believed to be related to psychological stress. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and risk factors for new-onset depression after esophageal cancer surgery among patients who had no pre-existing depression. In addition, we examined whether pre-existing depression affected postoperative 1-year mortality.

METHODS

The National Health Insurance Service database in South Korea was used for data extraction in this population-based cohort study. This study included all adult patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer who underwent esophageal surgery between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2018.

RESULTS

A total of 7039 adult patients who underwent esophageal cancer surgery at 95 South Korean hospitals were included in the analyses. Of the total, 608 patients (8.6%) were diagnosed with new-onset depression within 1 year after esophageal cancer surgery. Female sex, adjuvant chemotherapy, increased Charlson comorbidity index, pre-existing anxiety disorder, and pre-existing insomnia disorder were potential risk factors for new-onset depression. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, the pre-existing depression group showed a 1.27-fold (hazard ratio: 1.27; 95% confidence interval: 1.08-1.48; P = 0.004) higher risk of 1-year all-cause mortality than those who had no pre-existing depression.

CONCLUSION

In South Korea, 8.6% of patients are newly diagnosed with depression after esophageal cancer surgery, and some potential risk factors have been identified. Moreover, pre-existing depression was associated with increased 1-year all-cause mortality. Patients with esophageal cancer and pre-existing depression may be at high risk, requiring interventions after esophageal cancer surgery.

Profile of Nivolumab in the Treatment of Resected Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Review of the Clinical Data

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the seventh most common malignancy globally. There are two main histological subtypes: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma. ESCC is the predominant histological type of esophageal cancer worldwide and has worse prognosis than esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, effective treatment for patients with ESCC remains limited. Moreover, the risk of recurrence remains high in patients with resectable ESCC even with perioperative multidisciplinary treatment, such as chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy. Nivolumab, a human monoclonal immunoglobulin G4 antibody that inhibits programmed cell death protein 1, has recently been identified as a potential treatment for patients with metastatic esophageal cancer based on the results of the ATTRACTION-3 and CheckMate 648 trials. The CheckMate 577 trial showed survival benefits of postoperative nivolumab monotherapy compared with placebo in patients with resectable locally advanced esophageal cancer who did not achieve a pathological complete response after preoperative chemoradiotherapy. In this review, we discuss the data on the efficacy and safety of postoperative nivolumab and share future perspectives on immune checkpoint inhibitors as perioperative therapy for patients with locally advanced ESCC.

Cancer situation in China: what does the China cancer map indicate from the first national death survey to the latest cancer registration?

BACKGROUND

Over the past four decades, the Chinese government has conducted three surveys on the distribution of causes of death and built cancer registration. In order to shine a new light on better cancer prevention strategies in China, we evaluated the profile of cancer mortality over the forty years and analyzed the policies that have been implemented.

METHODS

We described spatial and temporal changes in both cancer mortality and the ranking of major cancer types in China based on the data collected from three national surveys during 1973-1975, 1990-1992, 2004-2005, and the latest cancer registration data published by National Central Cancer Registry of China. The mortality data were compared after conversion to age-standardized mortality rates based on the world standard population (Segi's population). The geographical distribution characteristics were explored by marking hot spots of different cancers on the map of China.

RESULTS

From 1973 to 2016, China witnessed an evident decrease in mortality rate of stomach, esophageal, and cervical cancer, while a gradual increase was recorded in lung, colorectal, and female breast cancer. A slight decrease of mortality rate has been observed in liver cancer since 2004. Lung and liver cancer, however, have become the top two leading causes of cancer death for the last twenty years. From the three national surveys, similar profiles of leading causes of cancer death were observed among both urban and rural areas. Lower mortality rates from esophageal and stomach cancer, however, have been demonstrated in urban than in rural areas. Rural areas had similar mortality rates of the five leading causes of cancer death with the small urban areas in 1973-1975. Additionally, rural areas in 2016 also had approximate mortality rates of the five leading causes with urban areas in 2004-2005. Moreover, stomach, esophageal, and liver cancer showed specific geographical distributions. Although mortality rates have decreased at most of the hotspots of these cancers, they were still higher than the national average levels during the same time periods.

CONCLUSIONS

Building up a strong primary public health system especially among rural areas may be one critical step to reduce cancer burden in China.

IGF2BP2-induced circRUNX1 facilitates the growth and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through miR-449b-5p/FOXP3 axis

BACKGROUND

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common digestive malignancies with relatively high morbidity and mortality. Emerging evidence suggests circular RNAs (circRNAs) play critical roles in tumor cell malignancy. However, the biological function and clinical significance of many circRNAs in ESCC remain elusive.

METHODS

The expression level and clinical implication of circRUNX1 in ESCC tissues were evaluated using qRT-PCR. In vitro and in vivo functional studies were conducted to investigate the underlying biological effects of circRUNX1 on ESCC cell growth and metastasis. Moreover, bioinformatics analysis, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays, dual-luciferase reporter assays, and rescue experiments were performed to explore the relationships between circRUNX1, miR-449b-5p, Forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3), and insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2).

RESULTS

CircRUNX1 was found to be significantly up-regulated in ESCC tissues and associated with TNM stage and differentiation grade. Functionally, circRUNX1 promoted ESCC cell proliferation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. CircRUNX1 enhanced FOXP3 expression by competitively sponging miR-449b-5p. Notably, both miR-449b-5p mimics and FOXP3 knockdown restored the effects of circRUNX1 overexpression on cell proliferation and metastasis. Furthermore, IGF2BP2 binding to circRUNX1 prevented its degradation.

CONCLUSIONS

IGF2BP2 mediated circRUNX1 functions as an oncogenic factor to facilitate ESCC progression through the miR-449b-5p/FOXP3 axis, implying that circRUNX1 has the potential to be a promising diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for ESCC patients.

Esophageal stenosis as an independent factor of poor prognosis in patients with ESCC treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy

Aim: To evaluate the clinical outcome and elucidate the prognostic factors in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Patients: Data for patients newly diagnosed with ESCC receiving definitive CRT at our institution between 2012 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: A total of 201 patients were included. Severe stenosis after radiotherapy was an independent factor relevant to prognosis. Maximal esophageal wall thickness, short-term responses, severe stenosis at diagnosis and a high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were independent risk factors for the occurrence of severe stenosis after radiotherapy. Conclusion: Severe stenosis after radiotherapy is a useful predictive indicator in patients with ESCC receiving definitive CRT. Further studies are needed to verify these findings.

Micro-climatic variations across Malawi have a greater influence on contamination of maize with aflatoxins than with fumonisins

This study reports levels of aflatoxin and fumonisin in maize samples (n = 1294) from all agroecological zones (AEZs) in Malawi. Most maize samples (> 75%) were contaminated with aflatoxins and 45% with fumonisins, which co-occurred in 38% of the samples. Total aflatoxins varied across the AEZs, according to mean annual temperature (P < 0.05) of the AEZs. Samples from the lower Shire AEZ (median = 20.8 µg/kg) had higher levels of aflatoxins (P < 0.05) than those from the other AEZs (median = 3.0 µg/kg). Additionally, the majority (75%) of the positive samples from the lower Shire AEZ had aflatoxin levels exceeding the EU regulatory limit (4 µg/kg), whereas 25%, 37%, and 39% of positive samples exceeded the threshold in the mid-elevation, Lake Shore and upper and middle Shire, and highlands AEZs, respectively. The lower Shire AEZ is characterised by higher mean temperatures throughout the year and low erratic rainfall. However, total fumonisins did not show significant variation across AEZs, but all positive samples exceeded 150 µg/kg, required for tolerable daily intake of 1.0 µg/kg body weight per day, established by the European Food Safety Authority Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain. Therefore, results of this study suggest that contamination of maize with aflatoxin responds to micro-climate more than with fumonisins. In addition, the data will be useful to public health policy-makers and stakeholders to articulate and implement monitoring and mitigation programs.

Pembrolizumab: first anti-PD-1/L1-based regimen for first-line treatment of advanced esophageal cancer in Japan

INTRODUCTION

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the ninth most common cancer in Japanese men. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the major histological type and accounts for 90% of EC cases in Japan. The prognosis of advanced ESCC remains poor. The standard treatment for advanced ESCC was palliative chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil plus cisplatin as first-line chemotherapy. After failure of first-line chemotherapy, taxanes were used as second-line chemotherapy. Recently, pembrolizumab monotherapy has demonstrated benefits as a second-line treatment in patients with advanced ESCC and a combined positive score of ≥10. Survival was found to be improved in patients with advanced EC who received first-line treatment with pembrolizumab plus doublet chemotherapy than in those who received doublet chemotherapy alone.

AREAS COVERED

This overview of immune checkpoint inhibitors focuses on pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy and shares key clinical data relevant to the treatment of patients with EC in Japan.

EXPERT OPINION

Pembrolizumab plus doublet chemotherapy is now an established first-line treatment for advanced EC in Japan. Recently, nivolumab plus doublet chemotherapy and nivolumab plus ipilimumab have also become first-line treatment options for patients with advanced ESCC. Further investigations are needed to identify biomarkers that would be useful for selecting candidates for these treatments.

Linear- versus circular-stapled esophagogastric anastomosis during esophagectomy: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Different techniques have been described for esophagogastric anastomosis. Over the past decades, surgeons have been improving anastomotic techniques with a gradual shift from hand-sewn to stapled anastomosis. Nowadays, circular-stapled (CS) and linear-stapled (LS) anastomosis are commonly used during esophagectomy.

METHODS

PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched up to June 2022. The included studies evaluated short-term outcomes for LS vs. CS anastomosis in patients undergoing esophagectomy for cancer. Primary outcomes were anastomotic leak (AL) and stricture (AS). Risk ratio (RR) and standardized mean difference (SMD) were used as pooled effect size measures whereas 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were used to assess relative inference.

RESULTS

Eighteen studies (2861 patients) were included. Overall, 1371 (47.9%) underwent CS while 1490 (52.1%) LS. Compared to CS, LS was associated with a significantly reduced RR for AL (RR = 0.70; 95% CI 0.54-0.91; p < 0.01) and AS (RR = 0.32; 95% CI 0.20-0.51; p < 0.0001). Stratified subgroup analysis according to the level of anastomosis (cervical and thoracic) still shows a tendency toward reduced risk for LS. No differences were found for pneumonia (RR 0.78; p = 0.12), reflux esophagitis (RR 0.74; p = 0.36), operative time (SMD -0.25; p = 0.16), hospital length of stay (SMD 0.13; p = 0.51), and 30-day mortality (RR 1.26; p = 0.42).

CONCLUSIONS

LS anastomosis seems associated with a tendency toward a reduced risk for AL and AS. Although surgeon's own training and experience might direct the choice of esophagogastric anastomosis, our meta-analysis encourages the use of LS anastomosis.

KISS-1, Mediated by Promoter Methylation, Suppresses Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Metastasis via MMP2/9/MAPK Axis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

KISS-1 is an established tumor suppressor that inhibits metastases in various malignancies. However, little is known regarding its role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The aim of the present study was to identify the possible mechanisms of KISS-1 in ESCC metastasis.

METHODS

The expression levels of KISS-1 mRNA and protein in ESCC samples and cell lines were analyzed by qRT-PCR, IHC, and western blotting. Bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) and methylation-specific PCR (MSP) were used to analyze the methylation pattern of KISS-1 promoter in ESCC cells with or without 5-Aza-dC treatment. The role of KISS-1 in the progression and metastasis of ESCC was analyzed through in vitro functional assays.

RESULTS

KISS-1 mRNA and protein were markedly downregulated in ESCC tissues and cell lines compared to the respective controls. Hypermethylation of KISS-1 promoter correlated to its lower expression levels in ESCC, and KISS-1 demethylation inhibited tumor progression. Ectopic KISS-1 overexpression inhibited tumor cell metastasis in vitro. In addition, KISS-1 overexpression downregulated the matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 (MMP2 and 9) and inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Finally, KISS-1 downregulated phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) without affecting their total expression levels in the ESCC cells. MAPK/ERK and p38 MAPK agonists reversed the suppressive effects of KISS-1.

CONCLUSIONS

The hypermethylation of KISS-1 promoter partly contributed to its downregulation in ESCC. KISS-1 inhibits the metastasis of ESCC cells by targeting the MMP2/9/ERK/p38 MAPK axis.

MiR-574-5p promotes cell proliferation by negatively regulating small C-terminal domain phosphatase 1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Objectives

Esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancers with high incidence and mortality rates, especially in China. MicroRNA (miRNA) can be used as a prognostic marker for various human cancers. This study aims to detect suitable miRNA markers for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Materials and Methods

Our previous gene expression data of ESCC cells and the data from GSE43732 and GSE112840 were analyzed. The expression of miR-574-5p in ESCC patients and controls was analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR. The effect of miR-574-5p on proliferation was detected by real-time cell analysis (RTCA) and EdU proliferation assay after cell transfections. The target gene small C-terminal domain phosphatase 1 (CTDSP1) of miR-574-5p was validated by luciferase reporter assay and western blotting.

Results

In the current study, the bioinformatics analysis found miR-574-5p up-regulated in ESCC. The qPCR assay of 26 ESCC and 13 adjacent/ normal tissues confirmed these results. We further demonstrated that miR-574-5p overexpression promoted cell proliferation. Then the dual-luciferase reporter assay and the rescue experiment suggested that CTDSP1 was a direct target of miR-574-5p.

Conclusion

MiR-574-5p played an oncological role in ESCC by interacting and negatively regulating CTDSP1. These results provided a deeper understanding of the effect of miR-574-5p on ESCC.

Circular RNA-regulated autophagy is involved in cancer progression

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a sort of long, non-coding RNA molecules with a covalently closed continuous ring structure without 5'-3' polarity and poly-A tail. The modulative role of circRNAs in malignant diseases has been elucidated by many studies in recent years via bioinformatics and high-throughput sequencing technologies. Generally, circRNA affects the proliferative, invasive, and migrative capacity of malignant cells via various mechanisms, exhibiting great potential as novel biomarkers in the diagnoses or treatments of malignancies. Meanwhile, autophagy preserves cellular homeostasis, serving as a vital molecular process in tumor progression. Mounting studies have demonstrated that autophagy can not only contribute to cancer cell survival but can also induce autophagic cell death in specific conditions. A growing number of research studies have indicated that there existed abundant associations between circRNAs and autophagy. Herein, we systemically reviewed and discussed recent studies on this topic in different malignancies and concluded that the circRNA–autophagy axis played crucial roles in the proliferation, metastasis, invasion, and drug or radiation resistance of different tumor cells.

Untargeted serum metabolomics reveals potential biomarkers and metabolic pathways associated with esophageal cancer

Metabolomics has been reported as an efficient tool to screen biomarkers that are related to esophageal cancer. However, the metabolic biomarkers identifying malignant degrees and therapeutic efficacy are still largely unknown in the disease. Here, GC-MS-based metabolomics was used to understand metabolic alteration in 137 serum specimens from patients with esophageal cancer, which is approximately two- to fivefold as many plasma specimens as the previous reports. The elevated amino acid metabolism is in sharp contrast to the reduced carbohydrate as a characteristic feature of esophageal cancer. Comparative metabolomics showed that most metabolic differences were determined between the early stage (0–II) and the late stage (III and IV) among the 0–IV stages of esophageal cancer and between patients who received treatment and those who did not receive treatment. Glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism and glycine were identified as the potentially overlapped metabolic pathway and metabolite, respectively, in both disease progress and treatment effect. Glycine, fructose, ornithine, and threonine can be a potential array for the evaluation of disease prognosis and therapy in esophageal cancer. These results highlight the means of identifying previously unknown biomarkers related to esophageal cancer by a metabolomics approach.

Association between Serum Level of Multiple Trace Elements and Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Risk: A Case-Control Study in China

We investigated the associations between multiple serum trace element levels and risk for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). A total of 185 ESCC patients and 191 healthy individuals were recruited in our study. The concentration of 13 trace elements (Al, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Cd and Pb) in serum was determined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Logistic regression and the Probit extension of Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) models was established to explore the associations and the cumulative and mixed effects of multiple trace elements on ESCC. Three elements (Zn, Se and Sr) displayed a negative trend with risk for ESCC, and a significant overall effect of the mixture of Al, V, Mn, Ni, Zn, Se and Sr on ESCC was found, with the effects of V, Ni and Sr being nonlinear. Bivariate exposure-response interactions among these trace elements indicated a synergistic effect between Zn and Se, and an impactful difference of V combined with Ni, Sr or Zn. Our results indicate that Ni, V, Al, Mn, Zn, Se and Sr are associated with ESCC risk, providing additional evidence of the complex effects of trace elements disorder during the etiology of EC development.

Pathological Responses of the Primary Tumor and Locoregional Lymph Nodes After Neoadjuvant Immunochemotherapy in Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer

Background

The current study attempted to describe the specific patterns of pathological tumor response and locoregional node metastases from surgically resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy (NAIC), as well as to explore the association between clinicopathological characteristics and such oncological patterns.

Methods

Fifty-one patients with cT3 or deeper esophageal squamous cell cancer underwent subtotal esophagectomy after NAIC. The NAIC regimen included intravenous administration of platinum-based and docetaxel- and taxane-based chemotherapeutics along with a 200 mg fixed dose of one programmed death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor, given every 3 weeks. We divided patients into tumor/nodal good-responders and poor-responders based on the pathological observation of the tumor or nodal responses. We also examined the association between clinicopathological factors and tumor/nodal responses. Further, significant baseline predictors for tumor and nodal good-responders were identified using multivariate binary logistic regression.

Results

Of the 51 patients, 68.6% achieved marked primary tumor response. Notably, 21.6% of patients achieved complete pathological response. Significant differences in treatment cycles between tumor good-responders and tumor poor-responders (P = 0.019) were observed. For locoregional nodal responses, only 33.3% of patients achieved down-staged nodal disease. Of the investigated variables, neoadjuvant cycles (odds ratio (OR): 5.271, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.278 - 21.740, P = 0.022) and pretreatment platelets (OR: 0.979, 95% CI: 0.962 - 0.996, P = 0.017) were identified as independent predictors for good tumor and nodal responses.

Conclusions

We conclusively noted that most patients receiving NAIC were tumor good-responders, whereas only one-third of patients were nodal good-responders. Furthermore, we identified that treatment cycle number and baseline platelet counts were independent predictors of combined tumor and nodal responses.

Risk factors and outcomes of fatal respiratory events after esophageal cancer surgery from 2011 through 2018: a nationwide cohort study in South Korea

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary complications are common after esophageal cancer surgery, but information regarding fatal respiratory events, such as postoperative acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and respiratory failure, is lacking. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of fatal respiratory events after esophageal cancer surgery.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective population-based cohort study based on data from the National Health Insurance Service database in South Korea. All adult patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer who underwent esophageal surgery between January 2011 and December 2018 were included.

RESULTS

A total of 7039 patients were included in the final analysis. Among them, 100 patients (1.4%) experienced fatal respiratory adverse events (ARDS, 55 patients [0.8%]; respiratory failure, 45 patients [0.6%]). On multivariable logistic regression, residence in rural areas (vs. urban areas) at the time of surgery, open thoracotomy (vs. video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery), and lower annual case volume were associated with a higher prevalence of fatal respiratory adverse events. Moreover, postoperative fatal respiratory adverse events were related to increased in-hospital mortality, 1 year mortality, prolonged hospitalization, and increased total hospitalization costs.

CONCLUSION

In South Korea, 1.4% of patients experienced fatal respiratory events (ARDS or respiratory failure) after esophageal cancer surgery. Some factors were revealed as risk factors for fatal respiratory events, and fatal respiratory events worsened clinical outcomes after esophageal cancer surgery.

Alpha Protein Kinase 2 Promotes Esophageal Cancer via Integrin Alpha 11

BACKGROUND

As a common disease around the world, esophageal cancer (EC) primarily includes two subclasses: esophageal adenocarcinoma and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Mortality has been rising over the years; hence, exploring the mechanism of EC development has become critical. Among the alpha protein kinases, alpha protein kinase 2 (ALPK2) presumably has a connection with EC, but it has never been revealed before.

METHODS

In this study, IHC analysis was used for ALPK2 expression quantification in ES tissues. TE-1 and Eca-109, which are both human EC cell lines, were used for in vitro analysis of cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and colony formation.

RESULTS

ALPK2 was found to have an abundant expression within EC tissues (P < 0.001), as well as in the two selected human EC cell lines (P < 0.05). The data showed that ALPK2 depletion suppressed EC cell proliferation, migration, and colony formation, meanwhile stimulating apoptosis (P < 0.001). The in vivo experiments also displayed inhibitory effects caused by ALPK2 depletion on EC tumorigenesis (P < 0.001). It was further validated that ALPK2 depletion made the phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR, as well as CDK6 and PIK3CA levels downregulated (P < 0.001). Mechanistically, we identified integrin alpha 11 (ITGA11) as a downstream gene of ALPK2 regulating EC. More importantly, we found that ITGA11 elevation promoted cell proliferation and migration and rescued the suppression effects caused by ALPK2 depletion (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

ALPK2 promotes esophageal cancer via integrin its downstream gene alpha 11; ALPK2 can potentially act as a target for the treatment of EC.

Transthoracic Esophagectomy: Hand-sewn Versus Side-to-side Linear-stapled Versus Circular-stapled Anastomosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Three anastomotic techniques are mostly used to create an esophagogastric anastomosis in a transthoracic esophagectomy: hand-sewn (HS), side-to-side linear-stapled (SSLS), and circular-stapled (CS). The aim of this study was to compare surgical outcomes after HS, SSLS, and CS intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic review using the MEDLINE database was performed to identify original articles analyzing outcomes after HS, SSLS, and CS esophagogastric anastomosis. The main outcome was an anastomotic leakage rate. Secondary outcomes included overall morbidity, major morbidity, and mortality. A meta-analysis of proportions and linear regression models were used to assess the effect of each anastomotic technique on the different outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 101 studies comprising 12,595 patients were included; 8835 (70.1%) with CS, 2532 (20.1%) with HS, and 1228 (9.8%) with SSLS anastomosis. Anastomotic leak occurred in 10% [95% confidence interval (CI), 6%-15%], 9% (95% CI, 6%-13%), and 6% (95% CI, 5%-7%) of patients after HS, SSLS, and CS anastomosis, respectively. Risk of anastomotic leakage was significantly higher with HS anastomosis (odds ratio=1.73, 95% CI: 1.47-2.03, P<0.0001) and SSLS (odds ratio=1.68, 95% CI: 1.36-2.08, P<0.0001), as compared with CS. Overall morbidity (HS: 52% vs. SLSS: 39% vs. CS: 35%) and major morbidity (HS: 33% vs. CS: 19%) rates were significantly lower with CS anastomosis. Mortality rate was 4% (95% CI, 3%-6%), 2% (95% CI, 2%-3%), and 3% (95% CI, 3%-4%) after HS, SSLS, and CS anastomosis, respectively.

CONCLUSION

HS and SSLS intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomoses are associated with significantly higher rates of an anastomotic leak than CS anastomosis.

CSMD1 suppresses cancer progression by inhibiting proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, chemotherapy-resistance and inducing immunosuppression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Human CUB and Sushi multiple domains (CSMD1) is considered a crucial role in cancer progression, but the specific function in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is not clear. Understanding the role of CSMD1 in ESCC progression may lead to a novel strategy for ESCC treatment. Here, we found that both CSMD1 mRNA and protein levels were downregulated in ESCC tissues. Reduced CSMD1 expression was correlated with a poor prognosis in ESCC patients. CSMD1 expression inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion in ESCC cell lines in vitro. CSMD1 deficiency in established xenografted tumors increases tumor size and weight. We further found that CSMD1-overexpression cells are more sensitive to chemotherapy. Moreover, we addressed the role of CSMD1 in the CD8⁺ T cell immune response. An in vitro killing assay showed that the cytotoxicity of CD8⁺ T cells was inhibited in CSMD1-overexpression tumor cells. In vivo, in CSMD1 deficiency tumor-bearing mice activation and expansion of CD8⁺ T cells were increased. Further investigation showed that CSMD1 expression on tumor cells was positively correlated with CD8⁺ T cells infiltration and cytokines secretion. These findings highlight that CSMD1 is a tumor suppressor gene in ESCC patients and a positive regulator of CD8⁺ T cells expansion and activation, and could increase cytokines secretion, indicating that tumor cell-associated CSMD1 might be a target for ESCC.

High-throughput membrane-anchored proteome screening reveals PIEZO1 as a promising antibody-drug target for human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Background

Esophageal carcinoma is one of the most fatal cancers worldwide. In China, over 90% of esophageal cancer patients are diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Currently, the survival and prognosis of ESCC patients are not satisfying because of insufficient early screening and lack of efficacious medication. Accumulating studies have suggested that antibody‐drug conjugates (ADC) represent a promising antitumor strategy.

Method

Here, we carried out a specific membrane proteome screening with ESCC patients' samples using a high‐throughput antibody microarray to uncover potential targets for ADC development. Candidates were validated with expression and cytotoxicity evaluation both in vitro and in vivo.

Results

Our data have shown that the Piezo‐Type Mechanosensitive Ion Channel Component 1 (PIEZO1) is particularly overexpressed in human ESCC tumors and can be efficiently internalized when bound with its monoclonal antibody. Furthermore, the PIEZO1 antibody combined with monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) can specifically kill PIEZO1 high‐expressed ESCC tumor cells by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. More importantly, the Anti‐PIEZO1‐MMAE can significantly suppress tumor progression in ESCC xenograft tumor models without any obvious side effects.

Conclusion

Taken together, our work demonstrates that PIEZO1 is a promising target to develop ADCs for human ESCC treatment, providing a new strategy for ESCC patients' personalized therapy.