The Annual Risk of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Does Not Decrease Over Time in Patients With Barrett's Esophagus

[Esophageal Cancer]

Esophageal cancer has poor prognosis and high letality. With yearly 600,000 new cases worldwide it ist he sixt most common cancer worldwide and the eight most deadly. Squamous cell carcinoma is more common in Africa and Asia, whereas incidence of adenocarcinoma ist increasing in Norh America and Europe. Riskfactors include alcohol, smoking, obesity, esophageal stenosis or achalasia. Currently there are no recommendations for prevention strategies or cancer screening. Symptoms in early stages are unspecific, so diagnosis is made late. Diagnostics include gastroscopy, CT, PET and endosonography. Therapeutic approaches are depending on disease stage and patients general condition. In early stages endoscopic resection is the treatment of choice. In higher stages theraoy consists of surgical resection and radiochemotherapy. Generalised stade ist treated with palliative systemic therapy and local interventions.

Magnitude and Time-Trend Analysis of Postendoscopy Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Identification of postendoscopy esophageal adenocarcinoma (PEEC) among Barrett's esophagus (BE) patients presents an opportunity to improve survival of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). We aimed to estimate the proportion of PEEC within the first year after BE diagnosis.

METHODS

Multiple databases (Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane databases) were searched until September 2020 for original studies with at least 1-year follow-up evaluation that reported EAC and/or high-grade dysplasia (HGD) in the first year after index endoscopy in nondysplastic BE, low-grade dysplasia, or indefinite dysplasia. The proportions of PEEC defined using EAC alone and EAC+HGD were calculated by dividing EAC or EAC+HGD in the first year over the total number of EAC or EAC+HGD, respectively.

RESULTS

We included 52 studies with 145,726 patients and a median follow-up period of 4.8 years. The proportion of PEEC (EAC) was 21% (95% CI, 13-31) and PEEC (EAC+HGD) was 26% (95% CI, 19-34). Among studies with nondysplastic BE only, the PEEC (EAC) proportion was 17% (95% CI, 11-23) and PEEC (EAC+HGD) was 14% (95% CI, 8-19). Among studies with 5 or more years of follow-up evaluation, the PEEC (EAC) proportion was 10% and PEEC (EAC+HGD) was 19%. Meta-regression analysis showed a strong inverse relationship between PEEC and incident EAC (P < .001). The PEEC (EAC) proportion increased from 5% in studies published before 2000 to 30% after 2015. Substantial heterogeneity was observed for most analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

PEEC accounts for a high proportion of HGD/EACs and is proportional to reduction in incident EAC. Using best endoscopic techniques now and performing future research on improving neoplasia detection through implementation of quality measures and educational tools is needed to reduce PEEC.

Long-term endoscopic surveillance for Barrett's esophagus in Japan: Multicenter prospective cohort study

OBJECTS

Although a recent study showed the cancer incidence of Barrett's esophagus (BE) to be 1.2%/year in 251 patient-years in Japan, the long-term outcomes remain unclear. The present study estimated the cancer risk of BE in Japan using our original prospective multicenter cohort.

METHODS

A total of 98 patients with BE of maximum length of ≥2 cm were enrolled during the period of 2010-2012 and received at least one follow-up endoscopy over 5 years thereafter. Cancer incidence rates with 95% confidence interval for occurrence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) were calculated as the number of events divided by patient-years of follow-up and were expressed as %/year.

RESULTS

Overall, the median endoscopic follow-up period was 59.9 (first and third quartiles, 48.5-60.8) months, constituting a total of 427 patient-years of observation. Since two EAC cases developed, the cancer incidence was 0.47% (0.01%-1.81%)/year. The cancer incidence was 0.39% (-0.16% to 2.44%) in 232 patient-years and 0.31% (-0.13% to 1.95%)/year in 318 patient-years for 55 cases with specialized intestinal metaplasia and 70 with BE ≥3 cm (maximum), respectively. At the end of follow-up, 12 of 92 patients (13.0%) died, but none died from EAC.

CONCLUSION

This is the largest prospective follow-up study with endoscopy to investigate the incidence of EAC in unequivocal BE with the maximum length of ≥2 cm in Japan. Although a further large-scale study will be required to validate our results, the cancer risk of BE in Japan would be lower than previously reported (0.47% vs 1.2%/year).

Does Risk of Progression from Barrett's Esophagus to Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Change Based on the Number of Non-dysplastic Endoscopies?

BACKGROUND

There is a large Barrett's esophagus patient population undergoing endoscopic surveillance. Methods to stratify patients into higher and lower risk groups may enable more varied surveillance intervals for patients with non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus that could optimize use of endoscopy resources.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to assess whether risk of progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma differed in patients with multiple endoscopic biopsies negative for dysplasia.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study among individuals from the population-based Northern Ireland Barrett's register with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus (with intestinal metaplasia) between 1993 and 2010, who had at least one endoscopic biopsy conducted at least 12 months after diagnosis. We used Poisson regression to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between number of successive endoscopies showing non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus and risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma alone, and combined with high-grade dysplasia, at the next endoscopy.

RESULTS

We identified 1761 individuals who met our eligibility criteria. Subsequent risk of progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma was lower at the next endoscopy following two endoscopies showing non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus (IRR 0.26, 95% CI 0.10-0.66) than following one endoscopy showing non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus. Similar findings were apparent for risk of progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma or high-grade dysplasia (IRR 0.41, 95% CI 0.22-0.79).

CONCLUSION

The lower risk of malignant progression in individuals with persistent non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus over two consecutive endoscopic biopsies but not for longer term persistence does not support hypotheses of persistence being an indicator of less biologically aggressive lesions. Instead, the initial difference may be attributable to post-endoscopy cancers and support the necessity of adhering to robust quality standards for endoscopic procedures.

What is the optimal surveillance strategy for non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

There is conflicting data on the effectiveness of the currently recommended endoscopic surveillance strategy in non-dysplastic BE patients. We reviewed the literature to evaluate the (cost) effectiveness of the current surveillance strategy. We also reviewed critical strategies and new technologies which could improve dysplasia detection.

RECENT FINDINGS

Adherence to the current EGD surveillance guidelines is suboptimal with high rates of missed dysplasia/EAC. The influence of surveillance on EAC mortality appears modest. Careful cleansing, inspection and sampling of the BE mucosa using high resolution while light and (electronic) chromoendoscopy is critical. Newer sampling techniques coupled with computer aided diagnosis and emerging imaging technologies have shown promise in improving dysplasia detection. Personalized surveillance with risk stratification based on risk factors for progression may be on the horizon.

SUMMARY

Current BE surveillance strategy will likely be further refined and optimized by emerging new technologies in tissue sampling, advanced imaging and risk stratification.

High Content Imaging of Barrett's-Associated High-Grade Dysplasia Cells After siRNA Library Screening Reveals Acid-Responsive Regulators of Cellular Transitions

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) develops from within Barrett's esophagus (BE) concomitant with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Wound healing processes and cellular transitions, such as epithelial-mesenchymal transitions, may contribute to the development of BE and the eventual migratory escape of metastatic cancer cells. Herein, we attempt to identify the genes underlying esophageal cellular transitions and their potential regulation by the low pH environments observed in GERD and commonly encountered by escaping cancer cells.

METHODS

Small interfering RNA library screening and high-content imaging analysis outlined changes in BE high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and EAC cell morphologies after gene silencing. Gene expression microarray data and low pH exposures studies modeling GERD-associated pulses (pH 4.0, 10 min) and tumor microenvironments (pH 6.0, constant) were used.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis of small interfering RNA screening data defined 207 genes (Z-score >2.0), in 12 distinct morphologic clusters, whose suppression significantly altered BE-HGD cell morphology. The most significant genes in this list included KIF11, RRM2, NUBP2, P66BETA, DUX1, UBE3A, ITGB8, GAS1, GPS1, and PRC1. Guided by gene expression microarray study data, both pulsatile and constant low pH exposures were observed to suppress the expression of GPS1 and RRM2 in a nonoverlapping temporal manner in both BE-HGD and EAC cells, with no changes observed in squamous esophageal cells. Functional studies uncovered that GPS1 and RRM2 contributed to amoeboid and mesenchymal cellular transitions, respectively, as characterized by differential rates of cell motility, pseudopodia formation, and altered expression of the mesenchymal markers vimentin and E-cadherin.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, we have shown that low pH microenvironments associated with GERD, and tumor invasive edges, can modulate the expression of genes that triggered esophageal cellular transitions potentially critical to colonization and invasion.

Barrett oesophagus

Barrett oesophagus (BE), the only known histological precursor of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), is a condition in which the squamous epithelium of the oesophagus is replaced by columnar epithelium as an adaptive response to gastro-oesophageal reflux. EAC has one of the fastest rising incidences of cancers in Western countries and has a dismal prognosis. BE is usually detected during endoscopic examination, and diagnosis is confirmed by the histological presence of intestinal metaplasia. Advances in genomics and transcriptomics have improved our understanding of the pathogenesis and malignant progression of intestinal metaplasia. As the majority of EAC cases are diagnosed in individuals without a known history of BE, screening for BE could potentially decrease disease-related mortality. Owing to the pre-malignant nature of BE, endoscopic surveillance of patients with BE is imperative for early detection and treatment of dysplasia to prevent further progression to invasive EAC. Developments in endoscopic therapy have resulted in a major shift in the treatment of patients with BE who have dysplasia or early EAC, from surgical resection to endoscopic resection and ablation. In addition to symptom control by optimization of lifestyle and pharmacological therapy with proton pump inhibitors, chemopreventive strategies based on NSAIDs and statins are currently being investigated for BE management.

Incidence of Progression of Persistent Nondysplastic Barrett's Esophagus to Malignancy

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) in patients with non-dysplastic Barrett's esophagus (NDBE) is low, so there is debate over the role of ongoing surveillance for patients with NDBE. It is important to identify patients at low risk for progression. We assessed cancer risk based on the subsequent number of endoscopies showing persistence of NDBE in a nationwide study in the Netherlands.

METHODS

In a population-based study, patients with a first diagnosis of NDBE were selected from the Dutch nationwide registry of histopathology. We calculated incidence rates and incidence rate ratios (IRR) for high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and EAC to determine whether the number of endoscopies negative for dysplasia and the persistence of NDBE over time associate with progression to malignancy.

RESULTS

We identified 12,728 patients with NDBE during 2003 and 2013. HGD or EAC developed in 436 patients (3.4%) during 64,537 person-years of follow up (median, 4.9 years). The rate of progression to HGD or EAC was 0.68 (95% CI, 0.61-0.74) per 100 person-years. In patients with 2 consecutive endoscopies showing NDBE, the rate of progression to HGD or EAC decreased to 0.55 (95% CI, 0.46-0.64) per 100 person-years (IRR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.60-0.87). Overall, the incidence of HGD or EAC decreased by 14% for each year of progression-free follow-up (IRR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.81-0.92).

CONCLUSION

In a population-based study in the Netherlands, we found patients with stable NDBE to have a low risk of progression to HGD or EAC. These findings indicate that surveillance intervals might be lengthened or even discontinued in subgroups patients with persistent NDBE.

2017 David Sun Lecture: Screening and Surveillance of Barrett's Esophagus: Where Are We Now and What Does the Future Hold?

Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma continue to present considerable management challenges in the Western world. Despite our best efforts to date, the prognosis of advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma remains poor and far too many individuals with esophageal adenocarcinoma have not had a prior endoscopy to detect Barrett's esophagus. As such, current strategies of screening for Barrett's esophagus and subsequent surveillance need to be further optimized. Screening today is limited to high definition white light endoscopy in high-risk patient populations and as such has multiple limitations. However, a variety of exciting new techniques including risk prediction tools, tethered capsule endomicroscopy, a cytology sponge, breath testing for exhaled volatile organic compounds, and assessment of the oral microbiome are now under study in an effort to develop less expensive population-based screening methods. Similarly, endoscopic surveillance, as currently practiced has a variety of limitations. Inexpensive readily available adjuncts are already available to optimize surveillance including increased inspection time in an effort to detect mucosal or vascular abnormalities, special attention to the right hemisphere of the esophagus, and utilization of narrow band imaging or other electronic chromoendoscopy techniques. To improve endoscopic surveillance, a variety of new paradigms are under study including wide area trans-epithelial sampling, advanced endoscopic imaging, molecular imaging, clinical risk stratification and utilization of biomarkers of increased risk. However, progress will be challenging due to the complexity of esophageal cancer biology and the rarity of progression to cancer among patients with nondysplastic Barrett's epithelium.

Factors Associated With Progression of Barrett's Esophagus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Endoscopic surveillance of patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE) is inefficient. Risk stratification of patients might improve the effectiveness of surveillance. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify factors associated with progression of BE without dysplasia or BE with low-grade dysplasia (LGD) to high-grade dysplasia or esophageal adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

We performed a systematic search of databases through May 2016 to identify cohort studies of patients with baseline BE without dysplasia or BE with LGD that reported predictors of progression. Pooled estimates (odds ratios) of associations of age, sex, smoking, alcohol use, obesity, baseline LGD, segment length, and medication use with progression were calculated.

RESULTS

We identified 20 studies, reporting 1231 events in 74943 patients. The studies associated BE progression with increasing age (12 studies; odds ratio [OR], 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.05), male sex (11 studies; OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.84-2.53), ever smoking (current or past, 8 studies; OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.09-1.98), and increasing BE segment length (10 studies; OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.16-1.36), with a low degree of heterogeneity. LGD was associated with a 4-fold increase in risk of BE progression (11 studies; OR, 4.25; 95% CI, 2.58-7.0). Use of proton pump inhibitors (4 studies; OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.32-0.96) or statins (3 studies; OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.31-0.73) were associated with lower risk of BE progression. Alcohol use and obesity did not associate with risk of progression.

CONCLUSIONS

In a systematic review and meta-analysis, we associated older age, male sex, smoking, longer BE segment, and LGD with risk of progression of BE. Individuals with these features should undergo more intensive surveillance or endoscopic therapy. Smoking is a modifiable risk factor for cancer prevention in patients with BE.