Randomised clinical trial: twice daily esomeprazole 40 mg vs. pantoprazole 40 mg in Barrett's oesophagus for 1 year

Translating Molecular Biology Discoveries to Develop Targeted Cancer Interception in Barrett's Esophagus

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a rapidly increasing lethal tumor. It commonly arises from a metaplastic segment known as Barrett's esophagus (BE), which delineates the at-risk population. Ample research has elucidated the pathogenesis of BE and its progression from metaplasia to invasive carcinoma; and multiple molecular pathways have been implicated in this process, presenting several points of cancer interception. Here, we explore the mechanisms of action of various agents, including proton pump inhibitors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, metformin, and statins, and explain their roles in cancer interception. Data from the recent AspECT trial are discussed to determine how viable a multipronged approach to cancer chemoprevention would be. Further, novel concepts, such as the repurposing of chemotherapeutic drugs like dasatinib and the prevention of post-ablation BE recurrence using itraconazole, are discussed.

The appropriate cutoff gastric pH value for Helicobacter pylori eradication with bismuth-based quadruple therapy

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate whether an increased proton pump inhibitor (PPI) dose enhanced the efficacy of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication and determine the appropriate cutoff intragastric pH value that could predict H. pylori eradication with bismuth-based quadruple therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 207 H. pylori infected, treatment naive patients were enrolled in this prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial. Patients were randomly allocated into Eso40-group (esomeprazole 40 mg bid) and Eso20-group (esomeprazole 20 mg bid), and their CYP2C19 genotyping status was assessed. The 24-h intragastric pH monitoring on day 7 was performed, and percentage of time gastric pH ≥ 3, ≥4, ≥5, and ≥6 (pH holding time ratios; HTRs) were measured. H. pylori eradication was evaluated using ¹³ C-urea breath test.

RESULTS

No significant difference in the eradication rates was observed between two groups. The median 24-h intragastric pH value was not significant different between two groups but the Eso40 Group had a significant higher pH4 HTRs (91.11% [95%CI: 87.50%-95.83%] vs. 95.83% [95.83%-100%]; p = .002). Additionally, the median 24-h intragastric pH value showed significantly difference between two groups in EM genotype (Eso20 Group 6.00 [95%CI; 5.75-6.15] vs. Eso40 Group 6.30 [6.05-6.30]; p = .019). Similar results were observed in pH4 HTRs. There were significant differences in intragastric pH value (6.10 [95%CI: 4.40-7.00] vs. 5.65 [4.85-5.95], p = .038) and in pH4 HTRs (96% [95%CI: 92.00%-96.00%] vs. 87.5% [67.00%-100.0%], p = .019) between eradication-successful and eradication-failed patients. Statistical analysis suggested that the median intragastric pH = 5.7 could identify the success of H. pylori eradication.

CONCLUSIONS

Bismuth-based quadruple therapy resulted in high H. pylori eradication rates either in PPI standard or double doses. Double dose of esomeprazole is associated with better intragastric acid suppression. A median 24-h intragastric pH of 5.7 could be appropriate cutoff value for predicting the successful H. pylori eradication.

DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND FOLLOW-UP OF BARRETT'S ESOPHAGUS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

BACKGROUND

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a premalignant condition that raises controversy among general practitioners and specialists, especially regarding its diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up protocols.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review aims to present the particularities and to clarify controversies related to the diagnosis, treatment and surveillance of BE.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane, and SciELO based on articles published in the last 10 years. PRISMA guidelines were followed and the search was made using MeSH and non-MeSH terms "Barrett" and "diagnosis or treatment or therapy or surveillance". We searched for complete randomized controlled clinical trials or Phase IV studies, carried out with individuals over 18 years old.

RESULTS

A total of 42 randomized controlled trials were selected after applying all inclusion and exclusion criteria. A growing trend of alternative and safer techniques to traditional upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were identified, which could improve the detection of BE and patient acceptance. The use of chromoendoscopy-guided biopsy protocols significantly reduced the number of biopsies required to maintain similar BE detection rates. Furthermore, the value of BE chemoprophylaxis with esomeprazole and acetylsalicylic acid was relevant, as well as the establishment of protocols for the follow-up and endoscopic surveillance of patients with BE based predominantly on the presence and degree of dysplasia, as well as on the length of the follow-up affected by BE.

CONCLUSION

Although further studies regarding the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of BE are warranted, in light of the best evidence presented in the last decade, there is a trend towards electronic chromoendoscopy-guided biopsies for the diagnosis of BE, while treatment should encompass endoscopic techniques such as radiofrequency ablation. Risks of ablative endoscopic methods should be weighted against those of resective surgery. It is also important to consider lifetime endoscopic follow-up for both short and long term BE patients, with consideration to limitations imposed by a range of comorbidities. Unfortunately, there are no randomized controlled trials that have evaluated which is the best recommendation for BE follow-up and endoscopic surveillance (>1 cm) protocols, however, based on current International Guidelines, it is recommended esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) every 5 years in BE without dysplasia with 1 up to 3 cm of extension; every 3 years in BE without dysplasia with >3 up to 10 cm of extension, every 6 to 12 months in BE with low grade dysplasia and, finally, EGD every 3 months after ablative endoscopic therapy in cases of BE with high grade dysplasia.

Esomeprazole and aspirin in Barrett's oesophagus (AspECT): a randomised factorial trial

BACKGROUND

Oesophageal adenocarcinoma is the sixth most common cause of cancer death worldwide and Barrett's oesophagus is the biggest risk factor. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of high-dose esomeprazole proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) and aspirin for improving outcomes in patients with Barrett's oesophagus.

METHODS

The Aspirin and Esomeprazole Chemoprevention in Barrett's metaplasia Trial had a 2 × 2 factorial design and was done at 84 centres in the UK and one in Canada. Patients with Barrett's oesophagus of 1 cm or more were randomised 1:1:1:1 using a computer-generated schedule held in a central trials unit to receive high-dose (40 mg twice-daily) or low-dose (20 mg once-daily) PPI, with or without aspirin (300 mg per day in the UK, 325 mg per day in Canada) for at least 8 years, in an unblinded manner. Reporting pathologists were masked to treatment allocation. The primary composite endpoint was time to all-cause mortality, oesophageal adenocarcinoma, or high-grade dysplasia, which was analysed with accelerated failure time modelling adjusted for minimisation factors (age, Barrett's oesophagus length, intestinal metaplasia) in all patients in the intention-to-treat population. This trial is registered with EudraCT, number 2004-003836-77.

FINDINGS

Between March 10, 2005, and March 1, 2009, 2557 patients were recruited. 705 patients were assigned to low-dose PPI and no aspirin, 704 to high-dose PPI and no aspirin, 571 to low-dose PPI and aspirin, and 577 to high-dose PPI and aspirin. Median follow-up and treatment duration was 8·9 years (IQR 8·2-9·8), and we collected 20 095 follow-up years and 99·9% of planned data. 313 primary events occurred. High-dose PPI (139 events in 1270 patients) was superior to low-dose PPI (174 events in 1265 patients; time ratio [TR] 1·27, 95% CI 1·01-1·58, p=0·038). Aspirin (127 events in 1138 patients) was not significantly better than no aspirin (154 events in 1142 patients; TR 1·24, 0·98-1·57, p=0·068). If patients using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were censored at the time of first use, aspirin was significantly better than no aspirin (TR 1·29, 1·01-1·66, p=0·043; n=2236). Combining high-dose PPI with aspirin had the strongest effect compared with low-dose PPI without aspirin (TR 1·59, 1·14-2·23, p=0·0068). The numbers needed to treat were 34 for PPI and 43 for aspirin. Only 28 (1%) participants reported study-treatment-related serious adverse events.

INTERPRETATION

High-dose PPI and aspirin chemoprevention therapy, especially in combination, significantly and safely improved outcomes in patients with Barrett's oesophagus.

FUNDING

Cancer Research UK, AstraZeneca, Wellcome Trust, and Health Technology Assessment.

Gastrin stimulates a cholecystokinin-2-receptor-expressing cardia progenitor cell and promotes progression of Barrett's-like esophagus

Objective

The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is increasing, but factors contributing to malignant progression of its precursor lesion, Barrett's esophagus (BE), have not been defined. Hypergastrinemia caused by long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), has been suggested as one possible risk factor. The gastrin receptor, CCK2R, is expressed in the cardia and upregulated in BE, suggesting the involvement of the gastrin-CCK2R pathway in progression. In the L2-IL-1β mouse model, Barrett's-like esophagus arises from the gastric cardia. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the effect of hypergastrinemia on CCK2R+ progenitor cells in L2-IL-1β mice.

Design

L2-IL-1β mice were mated with hypergastrinemic (INS-GAS) mice or treated with PPIs to examine the effect of hypergastrinemia in BE progression. CCK2R-CreERT crossed with L2-IL-1β mice were used to analyze the lineage progenitor potential of CCK2R+ cells. Cardia glands were cultured in vitro, and the effect of gastrin treatment analyzed. L2-IL-1β mice were treated with a CCK2R antagonist YF476 as a potential chemopreventive drug.

Results

Hypergastrinemia resulted in increased proliferation and expansion of Barrett's-like esophagus. Lineage tracing experiments revealed that CCK2R+ cells are long-lived progenitors that can give rise to such lesions under chronic inflammation. Gastrin stimulated organoid growth in cardia culture, while CCK2R inhibition prevented Barrett's-like esophagus and dysplasia.

Conclusions

Our data suggest a progression model for BE to EAC in which CCK2R+ progenitor cells, stimulated by hypergastrinemia, proliferate to give rise to metaplasia and dysplasia. Hypergastrinemia can result from PPI use, and the effects of hypergastrinemia in human BE should be studied further.

Quantitation of spatial and temporal variability of biomarkers for Barrett's Esophagus

Chemoprevention and risk-stratification studies in Barrett's esophagus (BE) rely on biomarkers but the variability in their temporal and spatial expression is unknown. If such variability exists, it will impact sampling techniques and sample size calculations. Specimens from three levels of biopsies over two serial endoscopies in nondysplastic BE patients were analyzed for aneuploidy, proliferation markers (Ki67, Mcm2), and cell cycle markers (cyclin A and cyclin D1). A modification of the image cytometry technique, where cytokeratin staining automatically distinguished epithelial and stromal cells, measured aneuploidy on whole tissue sections. Other biomarkers were studied by immunohistochemistry. Coefficient of variability (SD/mean) was calculated; a value <10% indicated low variability. A total of 120 specimens (20 subjects each with three biopsy levels at two time points) from nondysplastic BE patients (71 ± 8.8 years, all Caucasian, 90% males, C5.1M7.5 ± 3.4 cm) were analyzed. The mean interval between endoscopies was 32.8 ± 8.4 months. Aneuploidy had a spatial variability of 6.8% at visit 1 (mean diploid index: 1.1 ± 0.09) and 7.9% at visit 2 (mean diploid index: 1.1 ± 0.06) and a temporal variability of 7.0-8.1% for the three levels. For other biomarkers, the spatial variability ranged from ∼5 to 30% at visit 1 and 11-92% at visit 2 and the temporal variability ranged from 0 to 77%. To conclude, of all the biomarkers, only aneuploidy had both spatial and temporal variability of <10%. Spatial and temporal variability were biomarker dependent and could be as high as 90% even without progression. These data will be useful to design chemoprevention and risk-stratification studies in BE.

Barrett’s esophagus in 2016: From pathophysiology to treatment

Esophageal complications caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include reflux esophagitis and Barrett’s esophagus (BE). BE is a premalignant condition with an increased risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). The carcinogenic sequence may progress through several steps, from normal esophageal mucosa through BE to EAC. A recent advent of functional esophageal testing (particularly multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring) has helped to improve our knowledge about GERD pathophysiology, including its complications. Those findings (when properly confirmed) might help to predict BE neoplastic progression. Over the last few decades, the incidence of EAC has continued to rise in Western populations. However, only a minority of BE patients develop EAC, opening the debate regarding the cost-effectiveness of current screening/surveillance strategies. Thus, major efforts in clinical and research practice are focused on new methods for optimal risk assessment that can stratify BE patients at low or high risk of developing EAC, which should improve the cost effectiveness of screening/surveillance programs and consequently significantly affect health-care costs. Furthermore, the area of BE therapeutic management is rapidly evolving. Endoscopic eradication therapies have been shown to be effective, and new therapeutic options for BE and EAC have emerged. The aim of the present review article is to highlight the status of screening/surveillance programs and the current progress of BE therapy. Moreover, we discuss the recent introduction of novel esophageal pathophysiological exams that have improved the knowledge of the mechanisms linking GERD to BE.

Clinical Study of Ursodeoxycholic Acid in Barrett's Esophagus Patients

Prior research strongly implicates gastric acid and bile acids, two major components of the gastroesophageal refluxate, in the development of Barrett's esophagus and its pathogenesis. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a hydrophilic bile acid, has been shown to protect esophageal cells against oxidative stress induced by cytotoxic bile acids. We conducted a pilot clinical study to evaluate the clinical activity of UDCA in patients with Barrett's esophagus. Twenty-nine patients with Barrett's esophagus received UDCA treatment at a daily dose of 13 to 15 mg/kg/day for 6 months. The clinical activity of UDCA was assessed by evaluating changes in gastric bile acid composition and markers of oxidative DNA damage (8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine), cell proliferation (Ki67), and apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3) in Barrett's esophagus epithelium. The bile acid concentrations in gastric fluid were measured by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. At baseline, UDCA (sum of unchanged and glycine/taurine conjugates) accounted for 18.2% of total gastric bile acids. After UDCA intervention, UDCA increased significantly to account for 93.4% of total gastric bile acids (P < 0.0001). The expression of markers of oxidative DNA damage, cell proliferation, and apoptosis was assessed in the Barrett's esophagus biopsies by IHC. The selected tissue biomarkers were unchanged after 6 months of UDCA intervention. We conclude that high-dose UDCA supplementation for 6 months resulted in favorable changes in gastric bile acid composition but did not modulate selected markers of oxidative DNA damage, cell proliferation, and apoptosis in the Barrett's esophagus epithelium. Cancer Prev Res; 9(7); 528-33. ©2016 AACRSee related article by Brian J. Reid, p. 512.

Embryological signaling pathways in Barrett's metaplasia development and malignant transformation; mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities

Barrett's metaplasia of the esophagus (BE) is the precursor lesion of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), a deadly disease with a 5-year overall survival of less than 20%. The molecular mechanisms of BE development and its transformation to EAC are poorly understood and current surveillance and treatment strategies are of limited efficacy. Increasing evidence suggests that aberrant signaling through pathways active in the embryological development of the esophagus contributes to BE development and progression to EAC. We discuss the role that the Bone morphogenetic protein, Hedgehog, Wingless-Type MMTV Integration Site Family (WNT) and Retinoic acid signaling pathways play during embryological development of the esophagus and their contribution to BE development and malignant transformation. Modulation of these pathways provides new therapeutic opportunities. By integrating findings in developmental biology with those from translational research and clinical trials, this review provides a platform for future studies aimed at improving current management of BE and EAC.

Predictable Marker for Regression of Barrett's Esophagus by Proton Pump Inhibitor Treatment in Korea

Background/Aims

There has been no report regarding the regression of Barrett's esophagus (BE) by continuous treatment of proton pump inhibitor (PPI). The aim of this study was to determine the regression rate of BE by PPI and predictable markers related to regression.

Methods

Thirty-five patients diagnosed as BE were consecutively enrolled and most of them took continuous PPI. The 25 patients underwent endoscopic surveillance and received biopsy. If the specialized intestinal metaplasia (SIM) was lost at any point of surveillance and did not recur, the case was regarded as the regression group. The proportion of SIM was graded and the mucin phenotype was decided using immunohistochemistry for MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC6. To assess the cell proliferation indexes and the degree of intestinal maturation, immunohistochemistry for Ki67 and CDX2 were performed.

Results

The regression of BE occurred in the 11 (44%) patients. The clinical and demographic factors showed no difference between the regression (n = 11) and persistence group (n = 14). The lower grade of SIM (P < 0.001) and gastric predominant mucin phenotype (P = 0.018) were more frequent, and the number of Ki67 positive cell per gland (P = 0.008) and the mean extent of CDX2 (P = 0.022) were lower in the regression group than in the persistence group.

Conclusions

The regression of BE by PPI treatment was frequent in Korea. The immunohistochemical detection of mucin phenotype, grade of SIM, Ki67 and CDX2 expression in Barrett's mucosa could be useful as a predictable marker for regression of SIM in BE.