Role of diet in the risks of esophageal adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma: an updated umbrella review

PURPOSE

This updated umbrella review aimed to evaluate the evidence regarding the associations between dietary factors and the risks of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC).

METHODS

The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify relevant studies. The quality of the included meta-analyses was evaluated using A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR 2). For each association, the number of cases, random effects pooled effect size, 95% confidence intervals (CIs), heterogeneity, 95% prediction interval (PrI), small-study effect, and excess significance bias were recalculated to determine the evidence level.

RESULTS

We identified 33 meta-analyses describing 58 dietary factors associated with ESCC and 29 meta-analyses describing 38 dietary factors associated with EAC. There was convincing evidence regarding the association of 2 dietary factors (areca nut and high alcohol) with the risk of ESCC. There was highly suggestive evidence regarding the association of only 1 dietary factor (healthy pattern) with the risk of ESCC. There was suggestive evidence regarding the association of 11 dietary factors with the risk of ESCC, including fruit, citrus fruit, vegetables, pickled vegetables, maté tea, moderate alcohol, hot beverages and foods, hot tea, salt, folate, and vitamin B6. There was convincing evidence regarding the association of one dietary factor (vitamin B6) with the risk of EAC. There was suggestive evidence regarding the association of 4 dietary factors with the risk of EAC, including processed meat, dietary fibre, carbohydrate, and vitamin B12. The convincing evidence regarding the associations between dietary factors and the risks of ESCC and EAC remained robust in sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

This umbrella review highlighted convincing evidence regarding the associations of areca nut and high alcohol with a higher risk of ESCC. Additionally, an association between vitamin B6 and a decreased risk of EAC was observed. Further research is needed to examine the dietary factors with weak evidence regarding their associations with ESCC and EAC.

Spatiotemporal Distribution, Time to Treatment Outcome Clustering and Determinants of Esophageal Cancer in Ethiopia, a Scoping Study

INTRODUCTION

Esophageal cancer was the eighth and sixth leading cause of morbidity of all cancers in the world, and the 15th and 12th in Ethiopia, respectively. There is a lack of comprehensive data regarding Ethiopia's esophageal cancer hotspot, treatment outcome clustering, and other factors.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review was designed to understand the extent and type of existing evidence regarding spatiotemporal distribution, time to treatment outcome clustering, and determinants of esophageal cancer in Ethiopia up to March 28, 2023.

METHODS

Three-step search strategies were employed for the scoping review from March 15 to 28, 2023. Targeted databases included PubMed/Medline, PubMed Central (PMC), Google Scholar, Hinari, and Cochrane for published studies and different websites for unpublished studies for evidence synthesis. Data were extracted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) manual format.

RESULTS

Our final analysis comprised 17 (16 quantitative and 1 qualitative) studies. Three studies attempted to depict the country's temporal distribution, whereas 12 studies showed the spatial distribution of esophageal cancer by proportion. The regional state of Oromia recorded a high percentage of cases. Numerous risk factors linked to the tumor have been identified in 8 investigations. Similarly, 5 studies went into detail regarding the likelihood of survival and the factors that contribute to malignancy, while 2 studies covered the results of disease-related treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

The substantial body of data that underpins this finding supports the fact that esophageal cancer has several risk factors and that its prevalence varies greatly across the country and among regions. Surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy helped the patient live longer. However, no research has investigated which treatment is best for boosting patient survival and survival clustering. Therefore, research with robust models for regional distribution, clustering of time to treatment outcomes, and drivers of esophageal cancer will be needed.

Preserved vegetable consumption and its association with mortality among 440,415 people in the China Kadoorie Biobank

BACKGROUND

Fresh vegetable consumption has been associated with lower incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, whether preserved vegetable consumption is linked with CVD and mortality remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the associations of preserved vegetable consumption with all-cause and cause-specific mortality.

METHODS

A total of 440,415 participants free of major chronic diseases, aged 30-79 years, were enrolled from 10 diverse regions in China between 2004 and 2008 and were followed up for an average of 10 years. Preserved vegetable consumption was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Cause-specific hazard models with the consideration of competing risk from various deaths were performed to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of mortality.

RESULTS

During 4,415,784 person-years of follow-up, we documented 28,625 deaths. After adjustment for major risk factors, preserved vegetable consumption was marginally associated with higher CVD mortality (P = 0.041 for trend and P = 0.025 for non-linearity) but not associated with cancer mortality and total mortality. For specific causes of death, consuming preserved vegetables was associated with higher hemorrhagic stroke mortality. The multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) of hemorrhagic stroke mortality compared with non-consumers were 1.32 (1.17-1.50) for 1-3 days/week and 1.15 (1.00-1.31) for regular consumers (≥4 days/week) (P = 0.006 for trend and P < 0.001 for non-linearity). In addition, regular preserved vegetable consumption was associated with increased risk of digestive tract cancer mortality [HR (95% CI): 1.13 (1.00-1.28); P = 0.053 for trend] and esophageal cancer mortality [HR (95% CI): 1.45 (1.17-1.81); P = 0.002 for trend].

CONCLUSIONS

Frequent consumption of preserved vegetables was associated with higher risk of mortality from hemorrhagic stroke and esophageal cancer in China. Our findings suggest limiting preserved vegetable consumption might be protective for premature death from hemorrhagic stroke and digestive tract cancer.

Association of educational attainment with esophageal cancer, Barrett's esophagus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, and the mediating role of modifiable risk factors: A Mendelian randomization study

Background

Observational studies have reported that educational attainment has been related to the risk of esophageal cancer (EC) and its precancerous lesions. However, the causal relationship remains controversial. We aimed to apply the Mendelian randomization (MR) design to determine the causal associations between genetically predicted educational attainment and EC, Barrett's esophagus (BE), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and to explore whether modifiable risk factors play a mediating role.

Methods

Using summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) based on European ancestry individuals of several years in education (EduYears, primary analysis, n = 293,723), college completion (College, secondary analysis, n = 95,427), EC (n = 420,531), BE (n = 361,194), and GERD (n = 420,531), genetic associations between two education phenotypes and EC, BE, and GERD were tested by two-sample MR analyses. Then, two-step MR mediation analyses were used to assess the proportion of the aforementioned association that might be mediated by body mass index (BMI), major depressive disorder (MDD), smoking, drinking, carbohydrates, fat, and protein intake.

Results

Genetically predicted EduYears was negatively associated with the risk of EC, BE, and GERD {odds ratio (OR), 0.64 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.44–0.94], 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75–0.99), and 0.62 (95%CI, 0.58–0.67)}. EduYears was negatively associated with BMI, MDD, and smoking (range of OR: 0.76–0.84). There were positive associations between BMI, smoking with EC, BE, and GERD, as well as between MDD with GERD (range of OR: 1.08–1.50). For individual mediating effect, BMI and smoking mediated 15.75 and 14.15% of the EduYears-EC association and 15.46 and 16.85% of the EduYears-BE association. BMI, MDD, and smoking mediated 5.23, 4.98, and 4.49% of the EduYears-GERD association. For combined mediation, the aforementioned mediators explained 26.62, 28.38, and 11.48% of the effect of EduYears on EC, BE, and GERD. The mediating effects of drinking and dietary composition were not significant in the effect of education on EC, BE, and GERD.

Conclusion

Our study supports that genetically predicted higher educational attainment has a protective effect on EC, BE, and GERD, and is partly mediated by reducing adiposity, smoking, and depression.

Dietary carbohydrate quantity and quality and risk of cardiovascular disease, all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Evidence remains conflicted on the association between dietary carbohydrate quantity and quality and risk of cardiovascular disease, all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality, and such meta-analyses are lacking. The study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to synthesize the knowledge about their associations and to explore the dose-response relations.

METHODS

We comprehensively searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science up to March 2022 for observational studies investigating the associations in adults. Random effect model was used to estimate the summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and the dose-response association was explored by restricted cubic splines.

RESULTS

We obtained the data from 41 eligible studies. Compared with participants with lowest dietary carbohydrate intake, those with highest intake had an RR of 1.10 (95% CI 1.03-1.17, I2 = 52.8%) for cardiovascular disease, 1.10 (0.98-1.24, I2 = 65.5%) for coronary heart disease (CHD), 1.20 (1.08-1.34, I2 = 0) for stroke, 1.07 (1.00-1.14, I2 = 61.9%) for all-cause mortality, 1.02 (0.92-1.14, I2 = 51.3%) for cardiovascular mortality, and 1.01 (0.89-1.13, I2 = 56.7%) for cancer mortality. For each 5 %E increase in dietary carbohydrate intake, the summary RR was 1.02 (1.00-1.04, I2 = 66.8%) for cardiovascular disease, 1.04 (1.01-1.06, I2 = 0) for stroke but not significant for other outcomes. Restricted cubic splines showed linear associations with risk of cardiovascular disease (Pnon-linearity = 0.143), CHD (Pnon-linearity = 0.508), stroke (Pnon-linearity = 0.654) and non-linear associations with all-cause mortality (Pnon-linearity = 0.008) and cardiovascular mortality (Pnon-linearity = 0.055). Limited studies were found on the association of cardiovascular disease and mortality with dietary carbohydrate quality using a multidimensional and integrated indicator.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased consumption of dietary carbohydrate intake is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and all-cause mortality. Linear relation was found for cardiovascular disease and stroke but non-linear relation for all-cause mortality. More studies are warranted to investigate the association of dietary carbohydrate quality using a combined indicator and cardiovascular disease and mortality.

Current Status and Future Prospects for Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the ninth most common cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) are the two main histological subtypes with distinct epidemiological and clinical features. While the global incidence of ESCC is declining, the incidence of EAC is increasing in many countries. Decades of epidemiologic research have identified distinct environmental exposures for ESCC and EAC subtypes. Recent advances in understanding the genomic aspects of EC have advanced our understanding of EC causes and led to using specific genomic alterations in EC tumors as biomarkers for early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of this cancer. Nevertheless, the prognosis of EC is still poor, with a five-year survival rate of less than 20%. Currently, there are significant challenges for early detection and secondary prevention for both ESCC and EAC subtypes, but Cytosponge™ is shifting this position for EAC. Primary prevention remains the preferred strategy for reducing the global burden of EC. In this review, we will summarize recent advances, current status, and future prospects of the studies related to epidemiology, time trends, environmental risk factors, prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment for both EC subtypes.

Diet and Esophageal Cancer Risk: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies

Diet may play an important role in the occurrence of esophageal cancer (EC). The aim of this umbrella review was to grade the evidence for the association between dietary factors and EC risk. A protocol for this review was registered with the PROSPERO database (CRD42021283232). Publications were identified by searching PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and CINAHL databases. Only systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies (cohort studies, case-cohort studies, nested case-control studies) were eligible. AMSTAR-2 (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews) was used to assess the methodological quality of included systematic reviews. For each association, random-effects pooled effect size, 95% CI, number of cases, 95% prediction interval, heterogeneity, small-study effect, and excess significance bias were calculated to grade the evidence. From 882 publications, 107 full-text articles were evaluated for eligibility, and 20 systematic reviews and meta-analyses describing 32 associations between dietary factors and EC risk were included in the present umbrella review. By assessing the strength and validity of the evidence, 1 association (positively associated with alcohol intake) was supported by highly suggestive evidence and 1 (inversely associated with calcium intake) showed a suggestive level of evidence. Evidence for 7 associations was weak (positively associated with red meat and processed-meat intake; inversely associated with whole grains, fruits, green leafy vegetables, green tea, and zinc intake). The remaining 23 associations were nonsignificant. In conclusion, the findings of this umbrella review emphasize that habitually consuming calcium, whole grains, fruits, green leafy vegetables, green tea, and zinc and reducing alcohol, red meat, and processed-meat intake are associated with a lower risk of EC. Since this umbrella review included only observational study data and some of the associations were graded as weak, caution should be exercised in interpreting these relations.

Urinary nitrate and sodium in a high-risk area for upper gastrointestinal cancers: Golestan Cohort Study☆

BACKGROUND

The epidemiological evidence regarding the carcinogenicity of nitrate and sodium in drinking water is limited, partly because measuring the exposure at the individual level is complex. Most studies have used nitrate in water supplies as a proxy for individual exposure, but dietary intakes and other factors may contribute to the exposure. The present study investigates the factors associated with urinary nitrate and sodium in a high-risk area for esophageal and gastric cancers.

METHODS

For this cross-sectional study, we used data and samples collected in 2004-2008 during the enrollment phase of the Golestan Cohort Study from a random sample of 349 participants (300 individuals from 24 rural villages and 49 from the city of Gonbad), stratified by average water nitrate in their district, the source of drinking water, and the usual dietary intake of nitrate and sodium. Nitrate, sodium, and creatinine were measured in a spot urine sample collected at the time of interview. We used the provincial cancer registry data to calculate the cumulative incidence rates of esophageal and gastric cancers for each location through June 1, 2020, and used weighted partial Pearson correlation to compare the incidence rates with median urinary nitrate and sodium in each village or the city.

RESULTS

Among 349 participants (mean age±SD: 50.7 ± 8.6 years), about half (n = 170) used groundwater for drinking, and the use of groundwater was significantly more common in high-elevation locations (75.8%). The geometric mean of the creatinine-corrected urinary nitrate concentration was 68.3 mg/g cr (95%CI: 64.6,72.3), and the corresponding geometric mean for urinary sodium was 150.0 mmoL/g cr (95%CI: 139.6,161.1). After adjusting for confounders, urinary nitrate was associated with being a woman, drinking groundwater, and living in high-elevation locations, but not with estimated dietary intake. Urinary sodium concentration was significantly associated with monthly precipitation at the time of sampling but not with elevation or drinking water source. There were significant positive correlations between both median urinary nitrate and sodium in each location and esophageal cancer incidence rates adjusted for sex and age (r = 0.65 and r = 0.58, respectively, p < 0.01), but not with gastric cancer incidence.

CONCLUSION

In a rural population at high risk for esophageal and gastric cancers, nitrate excretion was associated with living at a higher elevation and using groundwater for drinking. The associations between nitrate and sodium excretion with esophageal cancer incidence warrant future investigation.

Technological characteristics of sodium reduced wheat bread: Effects of fermentation type and partial replacement of salt with potassium chloride

Rheological, physicochemical, textural, and sensory characteristics of wheat bread prepared by potassium chloride (KCl) substitution of sodium chloride (NaCl) at different ratio (0:100, 10:90, 20:80, 30:70, 40:60, 50:50) in the presence of two different fermentation types (Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast starter (YSF) and mixed fermentation based on sourdough (MFSD)) were investigated. Considering the results obtained at this study, the technological characteristics change through KCl substitution ratio which depends on the type of fermentation. In other words, the enhanced activity of microflora in MFSD‐fermented samples and decreased activity of yeast in YSF‐fermented ones have been found by increasing the ratio of KCl incorporation level. Despite the increased activity of starter microflora in MFSD‐fermented samples through increasing the KCl incorporation level, the lowest specific volume (p < .05) is found in SD50 (containing 50%w/w KCl in the presence of MFSD) with a quantity equal to 1.71 ± 0.47 cm³/g confirming its inability to restore gases. No significant difference has been found in KCl substitution levels up to 20%w/w in YSF‐fermented samples (Y20) with control (p ≥ .05). The lowest crumb lightness (L*) (65.27 ± 0.12), highest cohesiveness (1.31 ± 0.07 mm), and springiness (0.76 ± 0.01) is also found in Y20. Considering sensory characteristics perception, no significant difference has been found in textural characteristics perception of Y10 and Y20 containing KCl at 10%w/w and 20% w/w, respectively, in the presence of YSF with control sample (Y). The overall acceptability is also found to be more influenced by texture perception(r = 0.827, p < .00).

The modulatory effect of high salt on immune cells and related diseases

BACKGROUND

The adverse effect of excessive salt intake has been recognized in decades. Researchers have mainly focused on the association between salt intake and hypertension. However, studies in recent years have proposed the existence of extra-renal sodium storage and provided insight into the immunomodulatory function of sodium.

OBJECTIVES

In this review, we discuss the modulatory effects of high salt on various innate and adaptive immune cells and immune-regulated diseases.

METHODS

We identified papers through electronic searches of PubMed database from inception to March 2022.

RESULTS

An increasing body of evidence has demonstrated that high salt can modulate the differentiation, activation and function of multiple immune cells. Furthermore, a high-salt diet can increase tissue sodium concentrations and influence the immune responses in microenvironments, thereby affecting the development of immune-regulated diseases, including hypertension, multiple sclerosis, cancer and infections. These findings provide a novel mechanism for the pathology of certain diseases and indicate that salt might serve as a target or potential therapeutic agent in different disease contexts.

CONCLUSION

High salt has a profound impact on the differentiation, activation and function of multiple immune cells. Additionally, an HSD can modulate the development of various immune-regulated diseases.

Dietary Carbohydrate and Diverse Health Outcomes: Umbrella Review of 30 Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of 281 Observational Studies

Background and Aims: The associations between dietary carbohydrate and diverse health outcomes remain controversial and confusing. To summarize the existing evidence of the association between dietary carbohydrate intake and diverse health outcomes and to evaluate the credibility of these sources of evidence. We performed this umbrella review of evidence from meta-analyses of observational studies.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science databases, and manual screening of references up to July 2020 were searched. Systematic reviews with meta-analyses of observational studies in humans investigating the association between dietary carbohydrate intake and multiple health outcomes were identified. We assessed the evidence levels by using summary effect sizes, 95% prediction intervals, between-study heterogeneity, evidence of small-study effects, and evidence of excess significance bias for each meta-analysis.

Results: We included 43 meta-analyses of observational research studies with 23 health outcomes, including cancer (n = 26), mortality (n = 4), metabolic diseases (n = 4), digestive system outcomes (n = 3), and other outcomes [coronary heart disease (n = 2), stroke (n = 1), Parkinson's disease (n = 1), and bone fracture (n = 2)]. This umbrella review summarized 281 individual studies with 13,164,365 participants. Highly suggestive evidence of an association between dietary carbohydrate intake and metabolic syndrome was observed with adjusted summary odds ratio of 1.25 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15–1.37]. The suggestive evidences were observed in associations of carbohydrate consumption with esophageal adenocarcinoma (0.57, 95% CI = 0.42–0.78) and all-cause mortality (adjusted summary hazard ratio 1.19, 95% CI = 1.09–1.30).

Conclusions: Despite the fact that numerous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have explored the relationship between carbohydrate intake and diverse health outcomes, there is no convincing evidence of a clear role of carbohydrate intake. However, there is highly suggestive evidence suggested carbohydrate intake is associated with high risk of metabolic syndrome, suggestive evidence found its association with increased risk of all-cause mortality and decreased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Systematic Review Registration: CRD42020197424.

Diet and cancer of the esophagus and stomach

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Dietary factors have been linked to cancers. This review focuses on several nutrients, which have strong evidence showing increase in cancer risks in the esophagus and stomach.

RECENT FINDINGS

Obesity is an important risk factor in upper gastrointestinal cancers. High sugar content in food and sugary drinks are the main drivers of obesity. Proinflammatory diet is another dietary factor, which is increasingly recognized as being associated with esophageal and gastric cancer.

SUMMARY

Cancer has been predicted to be the leading cause of death in this century. Cancers of the esophagus and stomach are the six and third most common cause of death worldwide. Although Helicobacter pylori infection is a known cause of gastric cancer, obesity is a leading contributor to esophageal adenocarcinoma. Epidemiological data have shown that dietary factors are associated with the two cancers. Observational, case control, animal and recent large cohort studies have identified associations between dietary factors and upper gastrointestinal cancer. Data are also emerging from studies, which look at dietary patterns, such as reduction in the Dietary Inflammatory Index, as well as adherence to a modified Mediterranean diet, and its association with the incidence of esophageal and gastric cancer.

Focal adhesion kinase: Insight into its roles and therapeutic potential in oesophageal cancer

Oesophageal cancer is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates because it is highly invasive and prone to recurrence and metastasis, with a five-year survival rate of <20%. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new methods aimed at improving therapeutic intervention. Several studies have shown that targeted therapy may be effective for the treatment of oesophageal cancer. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a non-receptor tyrosine kinase with kinase activity and scaffolding function, could be overexpressed in a variety of solid tumours, including oesophageal cancer. FAK participates in survival, proliferation, progression, adhesion, invasion, migration, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, DNA damage repair, and other biological processes through multiple signalling pathways in cancer cells. It plays an important role in the occurrence and development of tumours and has been linked to the prognosis of oesophageal cancer. FAK has been suggested as a potential therapeutic target in oesophageal cancer; thus, the combination of FAK inhibitors with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy is expected to prolong the survival of patients. This paper presents a brief overview of the structure of FAK and its potential role in oesophageal cancer, providing a rationale for the future application of FAK inhibitors in the treatment of the disease.