Loss of heterozygosity analysis of microsatellites on multiple chromosome regions in dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

Localization of substance P (SP)-immunoreactivity in the myenteric plexus of the rat esophagus

The present immunohistochemical study was performed to examine the number, distribution, and chemical coding of intrinsic substance P (SP) neurons and nerve fibers within the esophagus and discuss their functional roles. Many SP neurons and nerve fibers were found in the myenteric plexus, and the SP neurons gradually decreased from the oral side toward the aboral side of the esophagus. Double-immunolabeling showed that most SP neurons were cholinergic (positive for choline acetyltransferase), and few were nitrergic (positive for nitric oxide synthase). Some cholinergic SP nerve terminals surrounded cell bodies of several myenteric neurons. In the muscularis mucosa and lower esophageal sphincter, and around blood vessels, numerous SP nerve endings were present, and many of them were cholinergic. Also, SP nerve endings were found on only a few motor endplates of the striated muscles, and most of them were calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-positive. Retrograde tracing using Fast Blue (FB) showed that numerous sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) and nodose ganglion (NG) projected to the esophagus, and most FB-labeled SP neurons were CGRP-positive. These results suggest that the intrinsic SP neurons in the rat esophagus may play roles as, at least, motor neurons, interneurons, and vasomotor neurons, which are involved in local regulation of smooth muscle motility, neuronal transmission, and blood circulation, respectively. Moreover, SP nerve endings on only a minority of motor endplates may be extrinsic, derived from DRGs or NG, and possibly detect chemical circumstances within motor endplates to modulate esophageal motility.

Genomic characterization of early-stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in a Japanese population

Major risk factors for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) are smoking, alcohol consumption, and single nucleotide polymorphisms in ADH1B and ALDH2. Several groups have reported large-scale genomic analyses of ESCCs. However, the specific genetic changes that promote the development of ESCC have not been characterized. We performed exome sequencing of 16 fresh esophageal squamous cell neoplasms and targeted sequencing of 128 genes in 52 archival specimens, of which 26 were cancerous, and 26 were adjacent normal tissue, from Japanese ESCC patients. We found significantly more somatic mutations in TP53 and NOTCH1, CDKN2A deletions, and CCND1 amplifications in cancerous areas than in non-cancerous areas, consistent with previous studies that have characterized them as tumor suppressors and oncogenes. These data suggest that mutations, deletions, and amplifications, which alter the function of TP53, NOTCH1, CDKN2A, and CCND1, are the key changes that promote the transformation of esophageal mucosa to ESCC.

Genome-wide screening for genomic aberrations in Kazakh patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer by comparative genomic hybridization

Multiple chromosome aberrations are responsible for tumorigenesis of esophagus squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). To characterize genetic alterations by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and their relation to ESCC, We enrolled 54 members with ESCC from Kazakh's patients. We found that the deletions of 3p (P = 0.032), 17p (P = 0.004), 22q (P = 0.000) and gains of 5p (P = 0.000), 11q (P = 0.000) were significantly correlated with the location of tumors. Losses of 1p (P = 0.005), 3p (P = 0.006), 22q (P = 0.024) and gains of 3q (P = 0.043), 8q (P = 0.038), 18q (P = 0.046) were also found more frequently in patients with larger diameter disease. The loss of 19q (P = 0.005) and gains of l3q (P = 0.045), 18p (P = 0.018) were significantly correlated with pathologic grade. The gain of 7p (P = 0.009) and deletion of 19q (P = 0.018) were seen more frequently in patients with Grade III-IV tumors. Chromosome amplifications in ESCC at 1q (P = 0.008), 7p (P = 0.008), 8q (P = 0.018) and deletions at 3p (P = 0.021), 11q (P = 0.002), 17p (P = 0.012) were related to lymph node metastasis; the gains of 1q (P = 0.026) and 6q (P = 0.017) and the loss of 11q (P = 0.001) were significant in different isoforms of HPV infection. We identified some chromosomes in which the genes were related to the tumorgenesis of ESCC, which may be a theme for future investigation.

Genomic and Epigenomic Aberrations in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Implications for Patients

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common malignancy without effective therapy. The exomes of more than 600 ESCCs have been sequenced in the past 4 years, and numerous key aberrations have been identified. Recently, researchers reported both inter- and intratumor heterogeneity. Although these are interesting observations, their clinical implications are unclear due to the limited number of samples profiled. Epigenomic alterations, such as changes in DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and RNA editing, also have been observed in ESCCs. However, it is not clear what proportion of ESCC cells carry these epigenomic aberrations or how they contribute to tumor development. We review the genomic and epigenomic characteristics of ESCCs, with a focus on emerging themes. We discuss their clinical implications and future research directions.

Genetic Alterations in Esophageal Tissues From Squamous Dysplasia to Carcinoma

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most common subtype of esophageal cancer. Little is known about the genetic changes that occur in esophageal cells during the development of ESCC. We performed next-generation sequence analyses of esophageal nontumor, intraepithelial neoplasia (IEN), and ESCC tissues from the same patients to track genetic changes during tumor development.

METHODS

We performed whole-genome, whole-exome, or targeted sequence analyses of 227 esophageal tissue samples from 70 patients with ESCC undergoing resection at Shantou University Medical College in China from 2012 through 2015 (no patients had received chemotherapy or radiation therapy); we analyzed normal tissues, tissues with simple hyperplasia, dysplastic tissues (IEN), and ESCC tissues collected from different regions of the esophagus at the same time. We also obtained 1191 nontumor esophageal biopsy specimens from the Chaoshan region (a high-risk region for ESCC) of China (a high-risk region for ESCC) and performed immunohistochemical and histologic analyses to detect inflammation.

RESULTS

IEN and ESCC tissues had similar mutations and copy number alterations, at similar frequencies; these differed from mutations detected in tissues with simple hyperplasia. IEN tissues had mutations associated with apolipoprotein B messenger RNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like-mediated mutagenesis (a DNA damage mutational signature). Genetic analyses indicated that most ESCCs were formed from early stage IEN clones. Trunk mutations (mutations shared by >10% of paired IEN and ESCC tissues) were in genes that regulate DNA repair and cell apoptosis, proliferation and adhesion. Mutations in TP53 and CDKN2A and copy number alterations in 11q (contains CCND1), 3q (contains SOX2), 2q (contains NFE2L2), and 9p (contains CDKN2A) were considered to be trunk variants; these were dominant mutations detected at high frequencies in clones of paired IEN and ESCC samples. In the esophageal biopsy samples from high-risk individuals (residing in the Chaoshan region), 68.9% had an evidence of chronic inflammation; the level of inflammation was correlated with atypical cell structures and markers of DNA damage.

CONCLUSIONS

We analyzed mutations and gene copy number changes in nontumor, IEN, and ESCC samples, collected from 70 patients. IEN and ESCCs each had similar mutations and markers of genomic instability, including apolipoprotein B messenger RNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like. Genomic changes observed in precancerous lesions might be used to identify patients at risk for ESCC.

Loss of heterozygosity and microsatellite instability as predictive markers among Iranian esophageal cancer patients

OBJECTIVES

Variation in microsatellite sequences that are dispersed in the genome has been linked to a deficiency in cellular mismatch repair system and defects in several genes of this system are involved in carcinogenesis. Our aim in this study was to illustrate microsatellite DNA alteration in esophageal cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

DNA was extracted from formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues from surgical and matched margin-normal samples. Microsatellite instability (MSI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) were studied in 50 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) by amplifying six microsatellite markers: D13S260 (13q12.3), D13S267 (13q12.3), D9S171 (9p21), D2S123 (2p), D5S2501 (5q21) and TP53 (17p13.1) analyzed on 6% denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

RESULTS

Statistical analysis indicated a near significant reverse correlation between grade and LOH (P= 0.068, correlation coefficient= -0.272). Specifically, increased LOH in tumor DNA has a significant correlation with increased differentiation from poorly differentiated to well differentiated tumors (P= 0.002 and P= 0.016 respectively). In addition, higher number of chromosomal loci with LOH showed a reverse correlation with lymph node metastasis (P= 0.026, correlation coefficient= -0.485). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between addiction and MSI (P= 0.026, correlation coefficient= 0.465).

CONCLUSION

Microsatellite DNA alterations may be a prognostic tool for detection and the evolution of prognosis in patients with SCC of esophagus. It can be concluded that regional lymph node metastasis would be less likely with increased heterozygote loci and addiction with any of opium, cigarette, water pipe or alcohol can be a susceptibility factor(s) for MSI.

Progression of esophageal dysplasia to cancer

The following, from the 12th OESO World Conference: Cancers of the Esophagus, includes commentaries on the evolution of low-grade squamous and glandular dysplasia to invasive carcinoma; the mutational spectra of Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma; the risk of p53-immunoreactive glandular dysplasia compared to non-immunoreactive mucosa for progression to cancer; the role of lectins in progression to adenocarcinoma; and the role of racemase immunoreactivity in the prediction of risk of adenocarcinoma.

Squamous dysplasia--the precursor lesion for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) accounts for 80% of all esophageal cancers worldwide, and esophageal squamous dysplasia (ESD) is the only histopathology that predicts the development of ESCC. The prevalence of ESD parallels rates of invasive ESCC and is typically found in 25% or more of adults above the age of 35 years in populations in north central China, where risk for ESCC is among the highest in the world. Results of chemoprevention and early detection studies to prevent progression of ESD suggest that these approaches, coupled with emerging endoscopic therapies, offer promise for the prevention of esophageal cancer mortality in high-risk populations. Future research on ESD and ESCC should focus on finding additional modifiable risk factors and on identifying biomarkers to incorporate into early detection strategies.