Risk factors for Barrett's esophagus among patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease: a community clinic-based case-control study

Exploring the incidence of dysplasia or adenocarcinoma in early onset Barrett's esophagus

BACKGROUND

Currently data on the risk of progression to and lifetime risk of cancer are not available for patients with young onset Barrett's esophagus (BE). Our aim was to obtain epidemiologic data on the incidence of dysplasia or adenocarcinoma in young onset BE in the Netherlands by collecting data on all histologically confirmed cases over a prolonged period of 25 years between January 1, 1991 and December 31, 2015.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the Dutch National Pathology Registry. Patients were included if there was a suspicion of BE visualized in the esophagus during the endoscopic examination in combination with a concordant histologic diagnosis of intestinal metaplasia.

RESULTS

231 patients with early onset BE were identified (median age 26 years [range 0-29 years]), with 17 progressing to dysplasia (6 prevalent and 11 incident). For the patients with incident dysplasia, the median surveillance time between the diagnosis of early onset BE and diagnosis of dysplasia was 5 years (range 0-16 years). The incidence rate of dysplasia was 7.3 per 1000 person-years. There were three patients who developed adenocarcinoma (1 prevalent and 2 incident), who were diagnosed at ages 28, 35, and 36 years. The incidence rate of adenocarcinoma was 1.3 per 1000 person-years.

CONCLUSIONS

In this 25-year period, 231 patients were diagnosed with early onset BE in the Netherlands, with 17 patients progressing to dysplasia and three developing adenocarcinoma. This corresponded to incidence rates of 7.3 per 1000 person-years for dysplasia and 1.3 per 1000 person-years for adenocarcinoma.

Multifaceted association of overweight and metabolically unhealthy with the risk of Barrett's esophagus in the UK Biobank cohort

The association of overweight/obesity and metabolically unhealthy (MU) with the risk of developing Barrett's esophagus (BE) remains uncertain. We evaluated whether MU and overweight/obesity are associated with increased BE incidence and whether they have a synergistic impact on BE development. We analyzed the body mass index (BMI) and metabolic indicators at baseline of 402,510 individuals from the UK Biobank with no history of BE. Overweight/obesity and MU were defined as BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2 and presence of ≥ 1 MU indicators, respectively. Accordingly, the participants were categorized into four groups: (1) metabolically healthy non-overweight/obesity (MHNO), (2) metabolically unhealthy non-overweight/obesity (MUNO), (3) metabolically healthy overweight/obesity (MHO), and (4) metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity (MUO). During a median follow-up of 13.5 years, 6195 (1.5%) individuals were newly diagnosed with BE. Among them, 39,281 (9.8%), 92,000 (22.9%), 25,297 (6.3%), and 245,932 (61.1%) individuals were classified as MHNO, MUNO, MHO, and MUO, respectively. In Cox regression analyses, both MU and overweight/obesity were independently associated with BE incidence. Moreover, BE incidence was significantly higher in the MUNO, MHO, and MUO groups, compared to the MHNO group. MU and overweight/obesity are independent risk factors for BE and have a synergistic effect on BE development.

Long-term risk factors for developing Barrett's oesophagus in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a longitudinal cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Several characteristics are known to affect the risk of Barrett's oesophagus (BO) in the general population, with symptomatic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) being a critical risk factor. In this study, we examined factors that influence BO development in people living with GORD.

DESIGN

People living with GORD were recruited from an endoscopy unit with lifestyle, medical and prescribing history collected. Logistic regression analysis was undertaken to assess the effects of multiple parameters on the likelihood of developing BO.

RESULTS

1197 participants were recruited. Most were Caucasian (n=1188, 99%), had no formal educational qualifications (n=714; 59.6%) and lived with overweight (mean body mass index >25 kg/m2). Many lived in areas of least socioeconomic resource (n=568; 47.4%). 139 (11.6%) had BO at baseline. In adjusted baseline analysis (n=1197), male sex (adjusted OR, aOR 2.04 (95% CI 1.92 to 4.12), p≤0.001), increasing age (aOR 1.03 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.04), p≤0.0001) and proton pump inhibitor use (aOR 3.03 (95% CI 1.80 to 5.13), p≤0.0001) were associated with higher odds of BO. At follow-up (n=363), 22 (6.1%) participants developed BO; male sex (aOR 3.18 (95% CI 1.28 to 7.86), p=0.012), pack-years cigarettes smoked (aOR 1.04 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.08), p=0.046) and increased alcohol intake (aOR 1.02 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.04), p=0.013), were associated with increased odds of BO.

CONCLUSION

Male sex, pack-years cigarettes smoked, and increasing alcohol intake, were independently associated with increased odds of developing BO over 20-year follow-up. These results align with research linking male sex and smoking with BO and extend this by implicating the potential role of alcohol in developing BO, which may require communication through public health messaging.

Advances in Screening for Barrett Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), the primary form of esophageal cancer in the United States, is a lethal cancer with exponentially increasing incidence. Screening for Barrett esophagus (BE), the only known precursor to EAC, followed by endoscopic surveillance to detect dysplasia and early-stage EAC and subsequent endoscopic treatment (to prevent progression of dysplasia to EAC and to treat early-stage EAC effectively) is recommended by several society guidelines. Sedated endoscopy (the primary current tool for BE screening) is both invasive and expensive, limiting its widespread use. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive review of recent innovations in the nonendoscopic detection of BE and EAC. These include swallowable cell sampling devices combined with protein and epigenetic biomarkers (which are now guideline endorsed as alternatives to sedated endoscopy), tethered capsule endomicroscopy, emerging peripheral blood-sampled molecular biomarkers, and exhaled volatile organic compounds. We also summarize progress and challenges in assessing BE and EAC risk, which is an important complementary component of the process for the clinical implementation of these innovative nonendoscopic tools, and propose a new paradigm for the strategy to reduce EAC incidence and mortality.

Causal association between dietary factors and esophageal diseases: A Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

Using Mendelian randomization (MR) approach, our objective was to determine whether there was a causal association between dietary factors and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett's esophagus (BE), or esophageal cancer (EC).

METHODS

Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for eighteen types of dietary intake were obtained from the UK Biobank. GWAS data for GERD, BE, and EC were sourced from the FinnGen consortium. We performed univariable and multivariable MR analysis to assess the cause effect between dietary factors and esophageal diseases. MR results were expressed as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Raw vegetable intake was associated with a lower risk of GERD (OR = 0.478; P = 0.011). On the contrary, cooked vegetable intake increased the risk of GERD (OR = 1.911; P = 0.024). Bread intake was associated with increased odds of BE (OR = 6.754; P = 0.007), while processed meat intake was associated with reduced risk of BE (OR = 0.210; P = 0.035). We also observed evidence that increased consumption of dried fruit (OR = 0.087; P = 0.022) and salt added to food (OR = 0.346; P = 0.045) could prevent EC. The results of multivariable MR showed that the protective effect of consumption of salt added to food on EC was no longer significant after adjusting for the consumption of dried fruit.

CONCLUSION

Vegetable consumption was associated with GERD, whereas consumption of bread and processed meat was associated with BE. Dried fruit intake was associated with a lower risk of EC, and the protective effect of consumption of salt added food on EC may also be mediated by consumption of dried fruit. Future research should be performed to investigate the mechanisms behind these cause-and-effect relationships to reduce the burden of disease caused by dietary habits.

Veterans with multiple risk factors for Barrett's esophagus are infrequently evaluated with upper endoscopy

Recent guidelines recommend screening for patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease who have three or more additional risk factors for Barrett's esophagus (BE). Failure to screen high-risk individuals represents a missed opportunity in esophageal adenocarcinoma prevention and early detection. We aimed to determine the frequency of upper endoscopy and prevalence of BE and esophageal cancer in a cohort of United States veterans who possessed four or more risk factors for BE. All patients at VA New York Harbor Healthcare System with at least four risk factors for BE between 2012 and 2017 were identified. Procedure records were reviewed for upper endoscopies performed between January 2012 and December 2019. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine risk factors associated with undergoing endoscopy and factors associated with BE and esophageal cancer. 4505 patients with at least four risk factors for BE were included. 828 patients (18.4%) underwent upper endoscopy, of which 42 (5.1%) were diagnosed with BE and 11 (1.3%) with esophageal cancer (10 adenocarcinoma; 1 squamous cell carcinoma). Among individuals who underwent upper endoscopy, risk factors associated with undergoing endoscopy included obesity (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.41-2.30; P < 0.001) and chronic reflux (OR, 3.86; 95% CI, 3.04-4.90; P < 0.001). There were no individual risk factors associated with BE or BE/esophageal cancer. In this retrospective analysis of patients with 4 or more risk factors for BE, fewer than one-fifth of patients underwent upper endoscopy, supporting the need for efforts aimed at improving BE screening rates.

Diagnosis and Management of Barrett's Esophagus

Barrett's esophagus is a metaplastic change of esophageal mucosa, which can be characterized by its salmon-colored lining and the presence of columnar epithelium with goblet cells. It is a well-established precancerous state of esophageal adenocarcinoma, a tumor with very poor survival rates, which incidence is rapidly growing. Despite numerous research, the debate about its diagnosis and management is still ongoing. This article aims to provide an overview of the current recommendations and new discoveries regarding the subject.

Genetic estimation of correlations and causalities between multifaceted modifiable factors and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

BACKGROUND

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is a common gastrointestinal dysfunction that significantly affects the quality of daily life, and health interventions are challenging to prevent the risk of GORD. In this study, we used Mendelian randomization framework to genetically determine the causal associations between multifaceted modifiable factors and the risk of GORD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty-six exposures with available instrumental variables (IVs) across 6 modifiable pathways were included in the univariable MR analysis (UVMR). Summary-level genome-wide association studies (GWAS) datasets for GORD were retrieved from the Neale Lab (GORD Neale , Ncases = 29975, Ncontrols = 390556) and FinnGen (GORD Finn , Ncases = 13141, Ncontrols = 89695). Using the METAL software, meta-analysis for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from GORD Neale and GORD Finn was conducted with an inverse variance weighted (IVW) fixed-effect model. Moreover, we leveraged partition around medoids (PAM) clustering algorithm to cluster genetic correlation subtypes, whose hub exposures were conditioned for multivariable MR (MVMR) analyses. P-values were adjusted with Bonferroni multiple comparisons.

RESULTS

Significant causal associations were identified between 26 exposures (15 risk exposures and 11 protective exposures) and the risk of GORD. Among them, 13 risk exposures [lifetime smoking, cigarette consumption, insomnia, short sleep, leisure sedentary behavior (TV watching), body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, whole body fat mass, visceral adipose tissue, waist circumference, hip circumference, major depressive disorder, and anxious feeling], and 10 protective exposures (leisure sedentary behavior (computer use), sitting height, hand grip strength (left and right), birth weight, life satisfaction, positive affect, income, educational attainment, and intelligence) showed novel significant causal associations with the risk of GORD. Moreover, 13 exposures still demonstrated independent associations with the risk of GORD following MVMR analyses conditioned for hub exposures (educational attainment, smoking initiation and BMI). In addition, 12 exposures showed suggestive causal associations with the risk of GORD.

CONCLUSION

This study systematically elucidated the modifiable factors causally associated with the risk of GORD from multifaceted perspectives, which provided implications for prevention and treatment of GORD.

Endoscopic Screening Program for Control of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma in Varied Populations: A Comparative Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Guidelines suggest endoscopic screening for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) among individuals with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and additional risk factors. We aimed to determine at what age to perform screening and whether sex and race should influence the decision.

METHODS

We conducted comparative cost-effectiveness analyses using 3 independent simulation models. For each combination of sex and race (White/Black, 100,000 individuals each), we considered 41 screening strategies, including one-time or repeated screening. The optimal strategy was that with the highest effectiveness and an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio <$100,000 per quality-adjusted life-year gained.

RESULTS

Among White men, 536 EAC deaths were projected without screening, and screening individuals with GERD twice at ages 45 and 60 years was optimal. Screening the entire White male population once at age 55 years was optimal in 26% of probabilistic sensitivity analysis runs. Black men had fewer EAC deaths without screening (n = 84), and screening those with GERD once at age 55 years was optimal. Although White women had slightly more EAC deaths (n = 103) than Black men, the optimal strategy was no screening, although screening those with GERD once at age 55 years was optimal in 29% of probabilistic sensitivity analysis runs. Black women had a very low burden of EAC deaths (n = 29), and no screening was optimal, as benefits were very small and some strategies caused net harm.

CONCLUSIONS

The optimal strategy for screening differs by race and sex. White men with GERD symptoms can potentially be screened more intensely than is recommended currently. Screening women is not cost-effective and may cause net harm for Black women.

Current Status of Mucosal Imaging with Narrow-Band Imaging in the Esophagus

Recent advances in endoscopic imaging of the esophagus have revolutionized the diagnostic capability for detecting premalignant changes and early esophageal malignancy. In this article, we review the practical application of narrow-band imaging focusing on diseases of the esophagus, including Barrett's esophagus, adenocarcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.

A multicenter prospective audit to investigate the current management of patients undergoing anti-reflux surgery in the UK: Audit & Review of Anti-Reflux Operations & Workup

BACKGROUND

There are a variety of surgical and endoscopic interventions available to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease. There is, however, no consensus on which approach is best.The aim of this national audit is to describe the current variation in the UK clinical practice in relation to anti-reflux surgery (ARS) and to report adherence to available clinical guidelines.

METHODS

This national audit will be conducted at centers across the UK using the secure online web platform ALEA. The study will comprise two parts: a registration questionnaire and a prospective multicenter audit of ARS. All participating centers will be required to complete the registration questionnaire comprising details regarding pre-, peri-, and post-operative care pathways and whether or not these are standardized within each center. Following this, a 12-month multicenter prospective audit will be undertaken to capture data including patient demographics, predominant symptoms, preoperative investigations, surgery indication, intraoperative details, and postoperative outcomes within the first 90 days.Local teams will retain access to their own data to facilitate local quality improvement. The full dataset will be reported at national and international scientific congresses and will contribute to peer-reviewed publications and national quality improvement initiatives.

CONCLUSIONS

This study will identify and explore variation in the processes and outcomes following ARS within the UK using a collaborative cohort methodology. The results generated by this audit will facilitate local and national quality improvement initiatives and generate new possibilities for future research in anti-reflux interventions.

Lifestyle interventions can reduce the risk of Barrett's esophagus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 62 studies involving 250,157 participants

Background

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a well‐established risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma. Our objective was to investigate the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions on BE risk.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science up to 30 September 2020. The summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the highest versus lowest categories of exposure were assessed. Analyses of subgroup, dose–response, sensitivity, and publication bias were conducted.

Results

Sixty‐two studies were included that involved more than 250,157 participants and 22,608 cases. Seven lifestyle factors were investigated: smoking, alcohol, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, sleep time, medication, and diet. We observed statistically significant increased BE risks for smoking (RR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.16–1.57), alcohol intake (RR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.13–1.34), body fatness (RR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.03–1.13), less sleep time (RR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.24–2.49), and proton pump inhibitors use (RR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.17–2.29). Reduced risks of BE were found for aspirin (RR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.58–0.84) and the intake of vitamin C (RR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.44–0.80), folate (RR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.31–0.71), and fiber (RR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.93–0.97). The quality of most included studies was high and the subgroup analysis according to the quality score showed significant results (p < 0.05). There was no publication bias for smoking and alcohol. Although the analysis suggested significant evidence of publication bias for BMI, sensitivity analysis showed that the changes in the recalculated RRs were not significant.

Conclusions

The large meta‐analysis revealed that lifestyle modifications could reduce the risks of BE and, consequently, esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Endoscopic Screening for Barrett's Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: Rationale, Candidates, and Challenges

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the only known precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), a cancer with increasing incidence and poor survival. Risk of EAC in patients with BE is higher compared with the general population. Endoscopic screening for BE is performed to identify patients earlier in the metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence from BE to EAC to enable eradication therapy. BE screening should be considered in individuals with multiple risk factors for BE and EAC. Challenges to BE screening include the absence of a cost-effective, widely applicable minimally invasive screening tool, gastroesophageal reflux disease centric screening recommendations, and limitations of current endoscopic surveillance practice.

Computational modelling suggests that Barrett's oesophagus may be the precursor of all oesophageal adenocarcinomas

OBJECTIVE

Barrett's oesophagus (BE) is a known precursor to oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) but current clinical data have not been consolidated to address whether BE is the origin of all incident OAC, which would reinforce evidence for BE screening efforts. We aimed to answer whether all expected prevalent BE, diagnosed and undiagnosed, could account for all incident OACs in the US cancer registry data.

DESIGN

We used a multiscale computational model of OAC that includes the evolutionary process from normal oesophagus through BE in individuals from the US population. The model was previously calibrated to fit Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results cancer incidence curves. Here, we also utilised age-specific and sex-specific US census data for numbers at-risk. The primary outcome for model validation was the expected number of OAC cases for a given calendar year. Secondary outcomes included the comparisons of resulting model-predicted prevalence of BE and BE-to-OAC progression to the observed prevalence and progression rates.

RESULTS

The model estimated the total number of OAC cases from BE in 2010 was 9970 (95% CI: 9140 to 11 980), which recapitulates nearly all OAC cases from population data. The model simultaneously predicted 8%-9% BE prevalence in high-risk males age 45-55, and 0.1%-0.2% non-dysplastic BE-to-OAC annual progression in males, consistent with clinical studies.

CONCLUSION

There are likely few additional OAC cases arising in the US population outside those expected from individuals with BE. Effective screening of high-risk patients could capture the majority of population destined for OAC progression and potentially decrease mortality through early detection and curative removal of small (pre)cancers during surveillance.

The Y-chromosome F haplogroup contributes to the development of Barrett's esophagus-associated esophageal adenocarcinoma in a white male population

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a metaplastic condition of the distal esophagus, resulting from longstanding gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). BE predisposes for the highly malignant esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Both BE and EAC have the highest frequencies in white males. Only a subset of patients with GERD develop BE, while <0.5% of BE will progress to EAC. Therefore, it is most likely that the development of BE and EAC is associated with underlying genetic factors. We hypothesized that in white males, Y-chromosomal haplogroups are associated with BE and EAC. To investigate this we conducted a multicenter study studying the frequencies of the Y-chromosomal haplogroups in GERD, BE, and EAC patients. We used genomic analysis by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism to determine the frequency of six Y-chromosomal haplogroups (DE, F(xJ,xK), K(xP), J, P(xR1a), and R1a) between GERD, BE, and EAC in a cohort of 1,365 white males, including 612 GERD, 753 BE patients, while 178 of the BE patients also had BE-associated EAC. Univariate logistic regression analysis was used to compare the outcomes. In this study, we found the R1a (6% vs. 9%, P = 0.04) and K (3% vs. 6%, P = 0.035) to be significantly underrepresented in BE patients as compared to GERD patients with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.63 (95% CI 0.42-0.95, P = 0.03) and of 0.56 (95% CI 0.33-0.96, P = 0.03), respectively, while the K haplogroup was protective against EAC (OR 0.30; 95% CI 0.07-0.86, P = 0.05). A significant overrepresentation of the F haplogroup was found in EAC compared to BE and GERD patients (34% vs. 27% and 23%, respectively). The F haplogroup was found to be a risk factor for EAC with an OR of 1.5 (95% CI 1.03-2.19, P = 0.03). We identified the R1a and K haplogroups as protective factors against development of BE. These haplogroups have low frequencies in white male populations. Of importance is that we could link the presence of the predominantly occurring F haplogroup in white males to EAC. It is possible that this F haplogroup is associated to genetic variants that predispose for the EAC development. In future, the haplogroups could be applied to improve stratification of BE and GERD patients with increased risk to develop BE and/or EAC.

Epidemiologic Risk Factors in a Comparison of a Barrett Esophagus Registry (BarrettNET) and a Case-Control Population in Germany

Endoscopic screening for Barrett's esophagus as the major precursor lesion for esophageal adenocarcinoma is mostly offered to patients with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, other epidemiologic risk factors might affect the development of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Therefore, efforts to improve the efficiency of screening to find the Barrett's esophagus population "at risk" compared with the normal population are needed. In a cross-sectional analysis, we compared 587 patients with Barrett's esophagus from the multicenter German BarrettNET registry to 1976 healthy subjects from the population-based German KORA cohort, with and without GERD symptoms. Data on demographic and lifestyle factors, including age, gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, physical activity, and symptoms were collected in a standardized epidemiologic survey. Increased age, male gender, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, low physical activity, low health status, and GERD symptoms were significantly associated with Barrett's esophagus. Surprisingly, among patients stratified for GERD symptoms, these associations did not change. Demographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors as well as GERD symptoms were associated with Barrett's esophagus development in Germany, suggesting that a combination of risk factors could be useful in developing individualized screening efforts for patients with Barrett's esophagus and GERD in Germany.

Development and validation of a risk prediction model to diagnose Barrett's oesophagus (MARK-BE): a case-control machine learning approach

Background

Screening for Barrett's Oesophagus (BE) relies on endoscopy which is invasive and has a low yield. This study aimed to develop and externally validate a simple symptom and risk-factor questionnaire to screen for patients with BE.

Methods

Questionnaires from 1299 patients in the BEST2 case-controlled study were analysed: 880 had BE including 40 with invasive oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) and 419 were controls. This was randomly split into a training cohort of 776 patients and an internal validation cohort of 523 patients. External validation included 398 patients from the BOOST case-controlled study: 198 with BE (23 with OAC) and 200 controls. Identification of independently important diagnostic features was undertaken using machine learning techniques information gain (IG) and correlation based feature selection (CFS). Multiple classification tools were assessed to create a multi-variable risk prediction model. Internal validation was followed by external validation in the independent dataset.

Findings

The BEST2 study included 40 features. Of these, 24 added IG but following CFS, only 8 demonstrated independent diagnostic value including age, gender, smoking, waist circumference, frequency of stomach pain, duration of heartburn and acid taste and taking of acid suppression medicines. Logistic regression offered the highest prediction quality with AUC (area under the receiver operator curve) of 0.87. In the internal validation set, AUC was 0.86. In the BOOST external validation set, AUC was 0.81.

Interpretation

The diagnostic model offers valid predictions of diagnosis of BE in patients with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux, assisting in identifying who should go forward to invasive testing. Overweight men who have been taking stomach medicines for a long time may merit particular consideration for further testing. The risk prediction tool is quick and simple to administer but will need further calibration and validation in a prospective study in primary care.

Funding

Charles Wolfson Trust and Guts UK.

Use of the Electronic Health Record to Target Patients for Non-endoscopic Barrett's Esophagus Screening

BACKGROUND

Clinical prediction models targeting patients for Barrett's esophagus (BE) screening include data obtained by interview, questionnaire, and body measurements. A tool based on electronic health records (EHR) data could reduce cost and enhance usability, particularly if combined with non-endoscopic BE screening methods.

AIMS

To determine whether EHR-based data can identify BE patients.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of patients ages 50-75 who underwent a first-time esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Data extracted from the EHR included demographics and BE risk factors. Endoscopy and pathology reports were reviewed for histologically confirmed BE. Screening criteria modified from clinical guidelines were assessed for association with BE. Subsequently, a score based on multivariate logistic regression was developed and assessed for its ability to identify BE subjects.

RESULTS

A total of 2931 patients were assessed, and BE was found in 1.9%. Subjects who met screening criteria were more likely to have BE (3.3% vs. 1.1%, p = 0.001), and the criteria predicted BE with an AUROC of 0.65 (95% CI 0.59-0.71). A score based on logistic regression modeling included gastroesophageal reflux disease, sex, body mass index, and ever-smoker status and identified BE subjects with an AUROC of 0.71 (95% CI 0.64-0.77). Both prediction tools produced higher AUROCs in women than in men.

CONCLUSIONS

EHR-based BE risk prediction tools identify BE patients with fair accuracy. While these tools may improve the efficiency of patient targeting for BE screening in the primary care setting, challenges remain to identify high-risk patients for non-invasive BE screening in clinical practice.

Clinical characteristics of young patients with early Barrett’s neoplasia

BACKGROUND

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and high-grade dysplasia (HGD) may appear in young patients with Barrett’s esophagus (BE). However, characteristics of Barrett’s-related neoplasia in this younger population remain unknown.

AIM

To identify clinical characteristics that differ between young and old patients with early-stage Barrett’s-related neoplasia.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database comprised of consecutive patients with early-stage EAC (pT1) and HGD at a tertiary-referral center between 2001 and 2017. Baseline characteristics, drug and risk factor exposures, clinicopathological staging of EAC/HGD and treatment outcomes [complete eradication of neoplasia (CE-N), complete eradication of intestinal metaplasia (CE-IM), recurrence of neoplasia and recurrence of intestinal metaplasia] were retrieved. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors that differed significantly between older and younger (≤ 50 years) patients.

RESULTS

We identified 450 patients with T1 EAC and HGD (74% and 26%, respectively); 45 (10%) were ≤ 50 years. Compared to the older group, young patients were more likely to present with ongoing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms (55% vs 38%, P = 0.04) and to be obese (body mass index > 30, 48% vs 32%, P = 0.04). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that young patients were significantly more likely to have ongoing GERD symptoms [odds ratio (OR) 2.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-3.85, P = 0.04] and to be obese (OR 2.06, 95%CI 1.07-3.98, P = 0.03) whereas the young group was less likely to have a smoking history (OR 0.39, 95%CI 0.20-0.75, P < 0.01) compared to the old group. However, there were no significant differences regarding tumor histology, CE-N, CE-IM, recurrence of neoplasia and recurrence of intestinal metaplasia (mean follow-up, 44.3 mo).

CONCLUSION

While guidelines recommend BE screening in patients > 50 years of age, younger patients should be considered for screening endoscopy if they suffer from obesity and GERD symptoms.

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.

Protective Propensity of Race or Environmental Features in the Development of Barrett's Esophagus in African Americans - A Single Center Pilot Study

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Barrett's Esophagus (BE) is a well-recognized pre-malignant condition. Previous data indicate histologically confirmed BE frequency varies by ethnicity in the United States. However, clinical factor assessment to explain this has only occurred in a veteran population to date. The study aim was to determine which clinical factors may be associated with the ethnic variation seen in histologically confirmed BE among a general population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The University of Florida-Jacksonville endoscopy database was searched for all cases of endoscopic BE from September 2002 to October 2012. Histologic BE was diagnosed only if salmon colored, columnar-appearing esophageal mucosa was seen at endoscopy and biopsy revealed intestinal metaplasia with Alcian blue-stained goblet cells. Data collected included: age/BMI at diagnosis, ethnicity, sex, GERD history, atypical manifestations, endoscopic BE length, presence of esophageal stricture/ulcer/hiatal hernia, presence/absence of dysplasia and medication use (aspirin/NSAIDs/statin/PPI).

RESULTS

Salmon colored esophageal mucosa was observed in 1105 of 15,564 patients (7.1%) with BE histologically confirmed in 249 of 1105 patients (23%). Ethnic distribution of histologic BE patients: 83% non-Hispanic white (nHw), 13% African American (AA) and 4% other. No difference was seen between groups with regard to BMI, GERD symptom/complications, BE length, and cigarette, alcohol or medication use.

CONCLUSION

BE occurs primarily in nHw in north Florida. This occurs despite similarities in GERD history, cigarette/alcohol use, medications prescribed and BMI. Molecular level investigation is necessary to explain this observed disparity between nHw and AA.

Genomic regions associated with susceptibility to Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma in African Americans: The cross BETRNet admixture study

Background

Barrett’s esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) are far more prevalent in European Americans than in African Americans. Hypothesizing that this racial disparity in prevalence might represent a genetic susceptibility, we used an admixture mapping approach to interrogate disease association with genomic differences between European and African ancestry.

Methods

Formalin fixed paraffin embedded samples were identified from 54 African Americans with BE or EAC through review of surgical pathology databases at participating Barrett’s Esophagus Translational Research Network (BETRNet) institutions. DNA was extracted from normal tissue, and genotyped on the Illumina OmniQuad SNP chip. Case-only admixture mapping analysis was performed on the data from both all 54 cases and also on a subset of 28 cases with high genotyping quality. Haplotype phases were inferred with Beagle 3.3.2, and local African and European ancestries were inferred with SABER plus. Disease association was tested by estimating and testing excess European ancestry and contrasting it to excess African ancestry.

Results

Both datasets, the 54 cases and the 28 cases, identified two admixture regions. An association of excess European ancestry on chromosome 11p reached a 5% genome-wide significance threshold, corresponding to -log₁₀(P) = 4.28. A second peak on chromosome 8q reached -log₁₀(P) = 2.73. The converse analysis examining excess African ancestry found no genetic regions with significant excess African ancestry associated with BE and EAC. On average, the regions on chromosomes 8q and 11p showed excess European ancestry of 15% and 20%, respectively.

Conclusions

Chromosomal regions on 11p15 and 8q22-24 are associated with excess European ancestry in African Americans with BE and EAC. Because GWAS have not reported any variants in these two regions, low frequency and/or rare disease associated variants that confer susceptibility to developing BE and EAC may be driving the observed European ancestry association evidence.

Association between coffee or tea drinking and Barrett's esophagus or esophagitis: an Italian study

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Only a few papers have treated of the relationship between Barrett's esophagus (BE) or erosive esophagitis (E) and coffee or tea intake. We evaluated the role of these beverages in BE and E occurrence.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

Patients with BE (339), E (462) and controls (619) were recruited. Data on coffee and tea and other individual characteristics were collected using a structured questionnaire.

RESULTS

BE risk was higher in former coffee drinkers, irrespective of levels of exposure (cup per day; ⩽1: OR=3.76, 95% CI 1.33-10.6; >1: OR=3.79, 95% CI 1.31-11.0; test for linear trend (TLT) P=0.006) and was higher with duration (>30 years: OR=4.18, 95% CI 1.43-12.3; TLT P=0.004) and for late quitters, respectively (⩽3 years from cessation: OR=5.95, 95% CI 2.19-16.2; TLT P<0.001). The risk of BE was also higher in subjects who started drinking coffee later (age >18 years: OR=6.10, 95% CI 2.15-17.3). No association was found in current drinkers, but for an increased risk of E in light drinkers (<1 cup per day OR =1.85, 95% CI 1.00-3.43).A discernible risk reduction of E (about 20%, not significant) and BE (about 30%, P<0.05) was observed in tea drinkers.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data were suggestive of a reduced risk of BE and E with tea intake. An adverse effect of coffee was found among BE patients who had stopped drinking coffee. Coffee or tea intakes could be indicative of other lifestyle habits with protective or adverse impact on esophageal mucosa.

Barrett’s oesophagus: Current controversies

Oesophageal adenocarcinoma is rapidly increasing in Western countries. This tumour frequently presents late in its course with metastatic disease and has a very poor prognosis. Barrett’s oesophagus is an acquired condition whereby the native squamous mucosa of the lower oesophagus is replaced by columnar epithelium following prolonged gastro-oesophageal reflux and is the recognised precursor lesion for oesophageal adenocarcinoma. There are multiple national and society guidelines regarding screening, surveillance and management of Barrett’s oesophagus, however all are limited regarding a clear evidence base for a well-demonstrated benefit and cost-effectiveness of surveillance, and robust risk stratification for patients to best use resources. Currently the accepted risk factors upon which surveillance intervals and interventions are based are Barrett’s segment length and histological interpretation of the systematic biopsies. Further patient risk factors including other demographic features, smoking, gender, obesity, ethnicity, patient age, biomarkers and endoscopic adjuncts remain under consideration and are discussed in full. Recent evidence has been published to support earlier endoscopic intervention by means of ablation of the metaplastic Barrett’s segment when the earliest signs of dysplasia are detected. Further work should concentrate on establishing better risk stratification and primary and secondary preventative strategies to reduce the risk of adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus.

Histologic Features Associated With Columnar-lined Esophagus in Distal Esophageal and Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ) Biopsies From GERD Patients: A Community-based Population Study

There are inherent problems with the endoscopic and pathologic criteria for columnar-lined esophagus (CLE). Furthermore, the clinical and biological significance of an irregular squamocolumnar junction (SCJ) is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between histologic features in SCJ biopsies and CLE and to gain insight into the significance of an irregular SCJ. The study was a cross-sectional analysis of 2176 mucosal biopsies of the SCJ from 544 patients in a large prospective community clinic-based study of gastroesophageal reflux disease in Washington State. Biopsy samples were evaluated blindly for a wide variety of histologic features, such as the presence and type of mucosal glands, submucosal glands and ducts, goblet cells, multilayered epithelium (ME), inflammation, and buried columnar epithelium. Histologic findings were correlated with the endoscopic findings (normal Z-line, irregular Z-line, or CLE) and evaluated by logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analysis.Five histologic features were associated with CLE: pure mucous glands, ME, presence of goblet cells, ≥50% of crypts with goblet cells, and buried columnar epithelium. Pure oxyntic glands were inversely associated with CLE. The features most strongly related to CLE included biopsies with ≥50% of crypts with goblet cells, ME, and mucosal gland type (area under the curve=0.71; 95% confidence interval=0.66-0.76). Patients with an irregular Z-line were histologically similar to those with CLE. Certain histologic features in biopsies of the SCJ are associated with the presence of CLE. Irregularity of the Z-line is probably indicative of ultrashort segment CLE, instead of being a potential variation of normal.

Who Deserves Endoscopic Screening for Esophageal Neoplasia?

Despite the availability of safe and effective endoscopic treatment of Barrett's esophagus (BE)-related dysplasia and neoplasia, the incidence and mortality from esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) have continued to increase. This likely stems from the large population of patients that develop EAC outside of a BE screening and surveillance program. Identification of BE with screening followed by enrollment in an appropriate surveillance/risk stratification program could be a strategy to address both the incidence of and mortality from EAC. This article summarizes the rationale and challenges for BE screening, the risk factors for BE, and the currently described BE risk assessment tools.

Risk of histologic Barrett's esophagus between African Americans and non-Hispanic whites: A meta-analysis

Background

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is rare in African Americans (AA). However, the risk difference magnitude in histologic BE prevalence between AA and non-Hispanic whites (nHw) has not been quantified to date.

Objective

The objective of this article is to determine the degree of histologic BE risk difference between AA and nHw.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science and EMBASE were searched for studies reporting histologic BE in AA/nHw for inclusion. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with risk estimates of histologic BE occurrence between AA/nHw were calculated along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Forest plots were used to quantify heterogeneity. Funnel plots and the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool were used to assess bias risk.

Results

Eight studies reported BE histologic confirmation in AA/nHw. Analysis demonstrated a nearly 400% increased histologic BE risk in nHw patients compared to AA (OR 3.949, 95% CI 3.069-5.082). In the model without the case-control study, histologic BE risk remained elevated at approximately 360% in nHw compared to AA (OR 3.618, 95% CI 2.769-4.726). Heterogeneity was not present in either model. Risk of bias was significant.

Conclusions

Histologic BE risk is elevated in nHw by 3.6-4 times compared to AA. Investigation into understanding any clinical, molecular or genetic mechanisms underlying this risk disparity is warranted.

Alcohol consumption pattern and risk of Barrett's oesophagus and erosive oesophagitis: an Italian case-control study

Knowledge about the association between alcohol and Barrett's oesophagus and reflux oesophagitis is conflicting. In this case-control study we evaluated the role of specific alcoholic beverages (red and white wine, beer and liquors) in 339 Barrett's oesophagus and 462 oesophagitis patients compared with 619 endoscopic controls with other disorders, recruited in twelve Italian endoscopic units. Data on alcohol and other individual characteristics were obtained from structured questionnaires. No clear, monotonic significant dose-response relationship was pointed out for red wine. However, a generalised U-shaped trend of Barrett's oesophagus/oesophagitis risk due to red wine consumption particularly among current drinkers was found. Similar results were also found for white wine. Liquor/spirit consumption seemed to bring about a 1·14-2·30 risk excess, although statistically non-significant, for current Barrett's oesophagus/oesophagitis drinkers. Statistically significant decreasing dose-response relationships were found in Barrett's oesophagus for frequency and duration of beer consumption. Similar, but less clear downward tendencies were also found for oesophagitis patients. In conclusion, although often not statistically significant, our data suggested a reduced risk of Barrett's oesophagus and oesophagitis with a low/moderate intake of wine and beer consumption. A non-significant increased risk of Barrett's oesophagus/oesophagitis was observed with a higher intake of any type of heavy alcohol consumption, but no conclusion can be drawn owing to the high number of non-spirit drinkers and to the small number of drinkers at higher alcohol intake levels.

Barrett Esophagus and Intramucosal Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Barrett esophagus (BE) is a precursor lesion for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Developments in imaging and molecular markers, and endoscopic eradication therapy, are available to curb the increase of EAC. Endoscopic surveillance is recommended, despite lack of data. The cancer risk gets progressively downgraded, raising questions about the understanding of risk factors and molecular biology involved. Recent data point to at least 2 carcinogenic pathways operating in EAC. The use of p53 overexpression and high-risk human papillomavirus may represent the best chance to detect progressors. Genome-wide technology may provide molecular signatures to aid diagnosis and risk stratification in BE.

The frequency of histologically confirmed Barrett's esophagus varies by the combination of ethnicity and gender

BACKGROUND

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the primary risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Limited data exists regarding the frequency of histologically confirmed BE by both gender and ethnicity in the United States. The study aim was to determine whether the frequency of histologically confirmed BE varies by ethnicity and gender.

METHODS

The University of Florida-Jacksonville endoscopy database was reviewed for all cases of salmon colored esophageal mucosa from September 2002 to August 2007. Histologic BE was diagnosed only if salmon colored esophageal mucosa was seen endoscopically and biopsy confirmed intestinal metaplasia with goblet cells. Data collected included: age at diagnosis, self-reported ethnicity [non-Hispanic white (nHw) or African American (AA)], gender, procedure indication, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) history, atypical manifestations, cigarette smoking, alcohol use, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use, BE endoscopic length, absence/presence of hiatal hernia, stricture or ulcer, and absence/presence/grade of dysplasia.

RESULTS

Salmon colored esophageal mucosa was identified in 391/7,308 patients, distributed ethnically as 306 nHw and 85 AA. Histologic BE was confirmed in 111/391 patients with ethnic distribution of: 95 nHw and 16 AA. Histologically confirmed BE frequency varied both by gender and ethnicity with nHw males having the highest (42.3%) and AA females the lowest (12.3%). Histologically confirmed BE frequency differed significantly between nHw males and nHw/AA females only (P<0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Histologically confirmed BE frequency varies by ethnicity and gender with nHw males having the highest frequency/risk and AA females the lowest. Investigation to improve understanding of the impact of race and gender in BE formation should be performed.

Candidate serum metabolite biomarkers for differentiating gastroesophageal reflux disease, Barrett's esophagus, and high-grade dysplasia/esophageal adenocarcinoma

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES

Incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA), an often fatal cancer, has increased sharply over recent decades. Several important risk factors (reflux, obesity, smoking) have been identified for EA and its precursor, Barrett's esophagus (BE), but a key challenge remains identifying individuals at highest risk, since most with reflux do not develop BE, and most with BE do not progress to cancer. Metabolomics represents an emerging approach for identifying novel biomarkers associated with cancer development.

METHODS

We used targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to profile 57 metabolites in 322 serum specimens derived from individuals with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), BE, high-grade dysplasia (HGD), or EA, drawn from two well-annotated epidemiologic parent studies.

RESULTS

Multiple metabolites differed significantly (P<0.05) between BE versus GERD (n=9), and between HGD/EA versus BE (n=4). Several top candidates (FDR q≤0.15), including urate, homocysteine, and 3-nitrotyrosine, are linked to inflammatory processes, which may contribute to BE/EA pathogenesis. Multivariate modeling achieved moderate discrimination between HGD/EA and BE (AUC=0.75), with less pronounced separation for BE versus GERD (AUC=0.64).

CONCLUSION

Serum metabolite differences can be detected between individuals with GERD versus BE, and between those with BE versus HGD/EA, and may help differentiate patients at different stages of progression to EA.

Monitoring the premalignant potential of Barrett's oesophagus'

The landscape for patients with Barrett's oesophagus (BE) has changed significantly in the last decade. Research and new guidelines have helped gastroenterologists to better identify those patients with BE who are particularly at risk of developing oesophageal adenocarcinoma. In parallel, developments in endoscopic image enhancement technology and optical biopsy techniques have improved our ability to detect high-risk lesions. Once these lesions have been identified, the improvements in minimally invasive endoscopic therapies has meant that these patients can potentially be cured of early cancer and high-risk dysplastic lesions without the need for surgery, which still has a significant morbidity and mortality. The importance of reaching an accurate diagnosis of BE remains of paramount importance. More work is needed, however. The vast majority of those undergoing surveillance for their BE do not progress towards cancer and thus undergo a regular invasive procedure, which may impact on their psychological and physical well-being while incurring significant cost to the health service. New work that explores cheaper endoscopic or non-invasive ways to identify the at-risk individual provides exciting avenues for research. In future, the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with BE could move away from hospitals and into primary care.

Decreased risk of developing cancer in subjects carrying SLC52A3 rs13042395 polymorphism: proof from a meta-analysis

AIM

This study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to explore the association between SLC52A3 rs13042395 polymorphism and cancer risk.

MATERIALS & METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was performed to confirm the relationship evaluated using STATA 12.0 software.

RESULTS

Overall, SLC52A3 rs13042395 C>T polymorphism was associated with cancer risk in two genetic models (TT vs CC: odds ratio: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.80-0.93; p < 0.001, TT vs CC + CT: odds ratio: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.82-0.95; p = 0.001). Significant associations were found between SLC52A3 rs13042395 polymorphism and decreased cancer risk among esophageal cancer, Asians, female, normal BMI and old age groups. No significant associations were observed in alcohol and smoking groups.

CONCLUSION

SLC52A3 rs13042395 C>T polymorphism might be a potential biomarker for cancer susceptibility.

Metabolic syndrome is associated with increased risk of Barrett esophagus: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Barrett esophagus (BE) is considered precursor condition of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Its incidence and prevalence are increasing in general population. Studies reported that metabolic syndrome (MS) or diabetes mellitus (DM) is related to increased risk of BE. Current study was to assess and better understand the relationship between MS /DM and BE.

METHODS

Electronic search was conducted in the database Pubmed/Medline (-December, 2015), Embase (-December, 2015), Cochrane Library (-December, 2015), and Web of Knowledge (-December, 2015). Studies included were assessed with summary odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and compared exposure group with control group. The heterogeneity was examined by the funnel plot and the Egger's test. Subgroup analyses and sensitive analyses were performed for the detection of possible heterogeneity and impact on stability of analysis results.

RESULTS

Twelve publications met the criteria and included 355,311 subjects were analyzed. The pooled results showed MS was closely associated with increased risk of BE (OR = 1.23; 95%CI 1.03-1.47; P = 0.024), and yet DM did not significantly increase the risk of BE (OR = 1.07; 95%CI 0.82-1.38; P = 0.627). Substantial heterogeneities were detected. No significant publication bias was detected by Egger's test (P = 0.23).

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results of current meta-analysis, MS is associated with increased risk of BE. Further long-term follow-up prospective study needs to verify the current results, and definite pathophysiological mechanism needs to be further investigated and clearly elucidated.

The oesophageal microbiome: an unexplored link in obesity-associated oesophageal adenocarcinoma

The influence of diets rich in saturated fats and simple sugars on the intestinal microbiota plays a central role in obesity. Being overweight or obese predisposes individuals to several diseases including oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC), which develops through a cascade of events starting with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, progressing to Barrett's oesophagus (BO), and then OAC. A range of mechanisms for the increased risk of OAC in obese individuals have been proposed; however, a role for the oesophageal microbiota has been largely ignored. This is despite the fact that it is clear that the composition of the oesophageal microbiota shifts with the development of OAC. Given the well-established impact that unhealthy diets have on the intestinal microbiota, it is plausible that exposure to unhealthy foods, and the ensuing obesity, would result in an imbalance in the oesophageal microbiota. It is also likely that these changes may mimic the changes observed in the intestinal microbiota (i.e. increase in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producers and bile acid biosynthesis). The modulation of SCFAs and bile acids in the oesophagus by diet could promote the transdifferentiation from squamous to intestinal-like columnar cells observed in BO, given that intestinal cells proliferate in the presence of SCFAs.

Yesterday and today of Barrett's esophagus: Historical evolution and research hotspots

It has been more than 60 years since the concept of Barrett's esophagus (BE) was put forward, and over these a few decades, we have made great progress in the diagnosis and treatment of BE. BE does not cause clinical symptoms, but it attracts wide attention, because it is an important precursor lesion of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The purpose of this article is to review the process of the recognition of BE and the current research hotspots as well as to discuss the current status of esophageal adenocarcinoma screening in BE patients. We aim to provide clinicians with an overview of the ins and outs of the disease, which will help them improve the diagnosis and treatment of BE in clinical practice and provide patients with beneficial treatment.

Leukocyte telomere length in relation to the risk of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma

Chronic inflammation and oxidative damage caused by obesity, cigarette smoking, and chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are major risk factors associated with Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). EAC has been increasing the past few decades, and early discovery and treatment are crucial for survival. Telomere shortening due to cell division and oxidative damage may reflect the impact of chronic inflammation and could possibly be used as predictor for disease development. We examined the prevalence of shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL) among individuals with GERD, BE, or EAC using a pooled analysis of studies from the Barrett's and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Consortium (BEACON). Telomere length was measured in leukocyte DNA samples by Q-PCR. Participants included 1173 patients (386 with GERD, 384 with EAC, 403 with BE) and 736 population-based controls. The association of LTL (in tertiles) along the continuum of disease progression from GERD to BE to EAC was calculated using study-specific odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Shorter LTL were less prevalent among GERD patients (OR 0.57; 95% CI: 0.35-0.93), compared to population-based controls. No statistically significant increased prevalence of short/long LTL among individuals with BE or EAC was observed. In contrast to some earlier reports, our findings add to the evidence that leukocyte telomere length is not a biomarker of risk related to the etiology of EAC. The findings do not suggest a relationship between LTL and BE or EAC.

Risk Factors for Barrett's Oesophagus

BACKGROUND

Barrett's oesophagus (BO) is a premalignant condition associated with the development of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC). Globally, the incidence of OAC is rising. Furthermore, the prognosis regarding the morbidity and mortality of OAC is bleak, with an estimated 5-year survival of 10-15%. Hence, detection of the premalignant phase is paramount. Endoscopy and biopsy sampling is the mainstay of diagnosis. Patients may present with symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) or be completely asymptomatic. Therefore, symptomatology alone is a poor indicator of this condition.

SUMMARY

This review highlights the current risk factors associated with the development of BO.

KEY MESSAGE

Primary risk factors for BO include male gender, increased age, a family history of the disease, long-standing GORD, smoking, obesity (specifically determined by the waist-to-hip ratio as opposed to BMI), and Caucasian race. Alcohol consumption and Helicobacter pylori are not associated with the condition.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

By ensuring an appropriate understanding of the risk factors, clinicians can discern at-risk patients for endoscopic diagnosis and surveillance.

Risk factors for Barrett's esophagus: a scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Cancer of the esophagus is a highly lethal disease with many patients presenting with metastatic spread of their tumor at diagnosis; a consequence of this late presentation is the 5-year survival rate of <20 %. Barrett's esophagus (BE), a premalignant condition of the distal esophagus, is the main risk factor for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. The development of a risk prediction tool that could assist healthcare professionals in identifying people at increased risk of developing BE would be advantageous. Understanding the factors that influence the risk of developing BE is the first stage of developing a risk prediction tool.

METHODS

A scoping review was undertaken to address the following question 'what factors influence the risk of developing Barrett's esophagus?' Forty-six articles were included in this review.

RESULTS

The majority of articles reviewed were case-control or cohort studies. Samples sizes ranged from 68 to 84,606. Risk factors reported to be statistically significant were divided into three categories: demographic, lifestyle and clinical factors. Strongest risk factors identified include: male gender, increasing age, white race, smoking, obesity and gastro-esophageal reflux disease symptoms, while some aspects of a person's diet appear to act as a protective measure.

CONCLUSION

Risk factors for BE are complex and need to be considered by healthcare professionals when identifying patients that could benefit from endoscopic eradication. These results provide a stepping stone for the future development of a risk prediction model.

Columnar lined Barrett's oesophagus

Over the past few years, the definition of Barrett's oesophagus has altered with no real agreement on histological understanding. This article highlights the increasing confusion regarding Barrett's oesophagus with a focus on the all-too-frequently ignored aspect of the columnar lined oesophagus.

Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Gastric Cardia Adenocarcinoma Shared Susceptibility Locus in C20orf54: Evidence from Published Studies

This study aimed to determine whether C20orf54 rs13042395 polymorphism modify the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and gastric cardia adenocarcinomas (GCA) in common population. We conducted a systematic literature review and evaluated the quality of included studies based on Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated to estimate the strengths of the associations. 9 articles (10 studies) were identified for synthesis analyses. Overall, the results indicated that the C20orf54 rs13042395 genotype was subtly decrease the risk of ESCC (T vs. C: OR = 0.95; 95%CI = 0.90–0.99; P = 0.02) and the rs13042395 polymorphism was associated with a decreased risk of GCA (T vs. C: OR = 0.95; 95%CI = 0.91–0.98; P < 0.01). The subsets were divided by smoking and drinking status, but none of the genetic comparisons reached statistical significance. Subgroup analysis was also stratified by body mass index (BMI), rs13042395 polymorphism was significantly associated with a subtly decreased cancer risk in under-weight group and normal group, but no association was observed in over-weight group. In conclusion, C20orf54 rs13042395 polymorphism was significantly associated with decreased ESCC and GCA risk especially for the subjects with under-weight or normal.

Association between the body mass index and the risk of Barrett's esophagus in Japan

BACKGROUND

We investigated the association between long-segment Barrett's esophagus and obesity in the Japanese population in a multicenter case-control trial.

METHODS

One hundred thirteen patients with endoscopically detected Barrett's esophagus with a length of more than 2 cm and the same number of sex- and age-matched controls were prospectively enrolled. Barrett's esophagus was diagnosed based on the Prague C and M criteria. The body mass index (BMI) of the subjects was categorized into the following groups: normal, BMI <22.9; overweight, BMI 23.0-24.9, and obese, BMI >25.0. To determine the association between BMI and the risk of Barrett's esophagus, multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The basically adjusted regression model adjusted for smoking and alcohol consumption revealed that overweight and obesity were significantly associated with an elevated risk of Barrett's esophagus (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-4.7, and OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.3-4.6, respectively). The intensity of the association was not attenuated even after adjustment for gastroesophageal reflux disease-related parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

An increased BMI was associated with an increased risk for Barrett's esophagus through a gastroesophageal reflux-independent mechanism in the Japanese population. Further, unlike in Caucasian populations, being even slightly overweight with a BMI of 23.0-24.9 was an independent risk factor in the Japanese population.

Recent developments in pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy of Barrett's esophagus

The burden of illness from esophageal adenocarcinoma continues to rise in the Western world, and overall prognosis is poor. Given that Barrett’s esophagus (BE), a metaplastic change in the esophageal lining is a known cancer precursor, an opportunity to decrease disease development by screening and surveillance might exist. This review examines recent updates in the pathogenesis of BE and comprehensively discusses known risk factors. Diagnostic definitions and challenges are outlined, coupled with an in-depth review of management. Current challenges and potential solutions related to screening and surveillance are discussed. The effectiveness of currently available endoscopic treatment techniques, particularly with regards to recurrence following successful endotherapy and potential chemopreventative agents are also highlighted. The field of BE is rapidly evolving and improved understanding of pathophysiology, combined with emerging methods for screening and surveillance offer hope for future disease burden reduction.

Screening for Barrett's Esophagus

There is substantial interest in identifying patients with premalignant conditions such as Barrett's esophagus (BE), to improve outcomes of subjects with esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, there is limited consensus on the rationale for screening, the appropriate target population, and optimal screening modality. Recent progress in the development and validation of minimally invasive tools for BE screening has reinvigorated interest in BE screening. BE risk scores combining clinical, anthropometric, and laboratory variables are being developed that may allow more precise targeting of screening to high-risk individuals. This article reviews and summarizes data on recent progress and challenges in screening for BE.

The Role of Gastroesophageal Reflux and Other Factors during Progression to Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

U.S. esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) incidence increased over 5-fold between 1975 and 2009. Symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (sGERD) elevates the risk for EAC. However, a simple calculation suggests that changes in sGERD prevalence can explain at most approximately 16% of this trend. Importantly, a mechanistic understanding of the influence of sGERD and other factors (OF) on EAC is lacking.

METHODS

A multiscale model was developed to estimate temporal trends for sGERD and OF, and their mechanistic role during carcinogenesis. Model calibration was to Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) incidence and age-dependent sGERD data using maximum likelihood and Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods.

RESULTS

Among men, 77.8% [95% credibility interval (CI), 64.9%-85.6%] of the incidence trend is attributable to OF, 13.4% (95% CI, 11.4%-17.3%) to sGERD, and 8.8% (95% CI, 4.2%-13.7%) to sGERD-OF interactions. Among women, 32.6% (95% CI, 27.0%-39.9%) of the trend is attributable to OF, 13.6% (95% CI, 12.5%-15.9%) to sGERD, and 47.4% (95% CI, 30.7%-64.6%) to interactions. The predicted trends were compared with historical trends for obesity, smoking, and proton pump inhibitor use. Interestingly, predicted OF cohort trends correlated most highly with median body mass index (BMI) at age 50 (r = 0.988 for men; r = 0.998 for women).

CONCLUSIONS

sGERD and OF mechanistically increase premalignant cell promotion, which increases EAC risk exponentially with exposure duration.

IMPACT

Surveillance should target individuals with long-duration sGERD and OF exposures.

Screening for Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma: rationale, recent progress, challenges, and future directions

As the incidence and mortality of esophageal adenocarcinoma continue to increase, strategies to counter this need to be explored. Screening for Barrett's esophagus, which is the known precursor of a large majority of adenocarcinomas, has been debated without a firm consensus. Given evidence for and against perceived benefits of screening, the multitude of challenges in the implementation of such a strategy and in the downstream management of subjects with Barrett's esophagus who could be diagnosed by screening, support for screening has been modest. Recent advances in the form of development and initial accuracy of noninvasive tools for screening, risk assessment tools, and biomarker panels to risk stratify subjects with BE, have spurred renewed interest in the early detection of Barrett's esophagus and related neoplasia, particularly with the advent of effective endoscopic therapy. In this review, we explore in depth the potential rationale for screening for Barrett's esophagus, recent advances that have the potential of making screening feasible, and also highlight some of the challenges that will have to be overcome to develop an effective approach to improve the outcomes of subjects with esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Smoking as an independent determinant of Barrett's esophagus and, to a lesser degree, of reflux esophagitis

PURPOSE

To evaluate the role of smoking in Barrett's esophagus (BE) and erosive esophagitis (E) compared to endoscopic controls with no BE or E. Smoking is considered a cause of both BE and E, but results on this topic are quite controversial.

METHODS

Patients with BE (339), E (462) and controls (619: 280 with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)-negative and 339 with GERD-positive anamnesis) were recruited in 12 Italian endoscopy units. Data were obtained from structured questionnaires.

RESULTS

Among former smokers, a remarkable upward linear trend was found in BE for all smoking-related predictors. In particular, having smoked for more than 32 years increased the risk more than two times (OR 2.44, 95 % CL 1.33-4.45). When the analysis was performed in the subgroup of subjects with GERD-negative anamnesis, the risk of late quitters (<9 years) passed from OR 2.11 (95 % CL 1.19-3.72) to OR 4.42 (95 % CL 1.52-12.8). A noticeably positive dose-response relationship with duration was seen also among current smokers. As regards E, no straightforward evidence of association was detected, but for an increased risk of late quitters (OR 1.84, 95 % CL 1.14-2.98) in former smokers and for early age at starting (OR 3.63, 95 % CL 1.19-11.1) in GERD-negative current smokers.

CONCLUSIONS

Smoking seems to be an independent determinant of BE and, to a lesser degree, of E. The elevation in risk is independent from GERD and is already present in light cigarette smokers. Smoking cessation may reduce, but not remove this risk.