Screening uptake of colonoscopy versus fecal immunochemical testing in first-degree relatives of patients with non-syndromic colorectal cancer: A multicenter, open-label, parallel-group, randomized trial (ParCoFit study)

BACKGROUND

Colonoscopy screening is underused by first-degree relatives (FDRs) of patients with non-syndromic colorectal cancer (CRC) with screening completion rates below 50%. Studies conducted in FDR referred for screening suggest that fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) was not inferior to colonoscopy in terms of diagnostic yield and tumor staging, but screening uptake of FIT has not yet been tested in this population. In this study, we investigated whether the uptake of FIT screening is superior to the uptake of colonoscopy screening in the familial-risk population, with an equivalent effect on CRC detection.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

This open-label, parallel-group, randomized trial was conducted in 12 Spanish centers between February 2016 and December 2021. Eligible individuals included asymptomatic FDR of index cases <60 years, siblings or ≥2 FDR with CRC. The primary outcome was to compare screening uptake between colonoscopy and FIT. The secondary outcome was to determine the efficacy of each strategy to detect advanced colorectal neoplasia (adenoma or serrated polyps ≥10 mm, polyps with tubulovillous architecture, high-grade dysplasia, and/or CRC). Screening-naïve FDR were randomized (1:1) to one-time colonoscopy versus annual FIT during 3 consecutive years followed by a work-up colonoscopy in the case of a positive test. Randomization was performed before signing the informed consent using computer-generated allocation algorithm based on stratified block randomization. Multivariable regression analysis was performed by intention-to-screen. On December 31, 2019, when 81% of the estimated sample size was reached, the trial was terminated prematurely after an interim analysis for futility. Study outcomes were further analyzed through 2-year follow-up. The main limitation of this study was the impossibility of collecting information on eligible individuals who declined to participate. A total of 1,790 FDR of 460 index cases were evaluated for inclusion, of whom 870 were assigned to undergo one-time colonoscopy (n = 431) or FIT (n = 439). Of them, 383 (44.0%) attended the appointment and signed the informed consent: 147/431 (34.1%) FDR received colonoscopy-based screening and 158/439 (35.9%) underwent FIT-based screening (odds ratio [OR] 1.08; 95% confidence intervals [CI] [0.82, 1.44], p = 0.564). The detection rate of advanced colorectal neoplasia was significantly higher in the colonoscopy group than in the FIT group (OR 3.64, 95% CI [1.55, 8.53], p = 0.003). Study outcomes did not change throughout follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, compared to colonoscopy, FIT screening did not improve screening uptake by individuals at high risk of CRC, resulting in less detection of advanced colorectal neoplasia. Further studies are needed to assess how screening uptake could be improved in this high-risk group, including by inclusion in population-based screening programs.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02567045).

Dissecting the genetic heterogeneity of gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) is clinically heterogenous according to location (cardia/non-cardia) and histopathology (diffuse/intestinal). We aimed to characterize the genetic risk architecture of GC according to its subtypes. Another aim was to examine whether cardia GC and oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) and its precursor lesion Barrett's oesophagus (BO), which are all located at the gastro-oesophageal junction (GOJ), share polygenic risk architecture.

METHODS

We did a meta-analysis of ten European genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of GC and its subtypes. All patients had a histopathologically confirmed diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma. For the identification of risk genes among GWAS loci we did a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) and expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) study from gastric corpus and antrum mucosa. To test whether cardia GC and OAC/BO share genetic aetiology we also used a European GWAS sample with OAC/BO.

FINDINGS

Our GWAS consisting of 5816 patients and 10,999 controls highlights the genetic heterogeneity of GC according to its subtypes. We newly identified two and replicated five GC risk loci, all of them with subtype-specific association. The gastric transcriptome data consisting of 361 corpus and 342 antrum mucosa samples revealed that an upregulated expression of MUC1, ANKRD50, PTGER4, and PSCA are plausible GC-pathomechanisms at four GWAS loci. At another risk locus, we found that the blood-group 0 exerts protective effects for non-cardia and diffuse GC, while blood-group A increases risk for both GC subtypes. Furthermore, our GWAS on cardia GC and OAC/BO (10,279 patients, 16,527 controls) showed that both cancer entities share genetic aetiology at the polygenic level and identified two new risk loci on the single-marker level.

INTERPRETATION

Our findings show that the pathophysiology of GC is genetically heterogenous according to location and histopathology. Moreover, our findings point to common molecular mechanisms underlying cardia GC and OAC/BO.

FUNDING

German Research Foundation (DFG).

Biomarkers of Response to Low-Dose Aspirin in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Patients

BACKGROUND

The results of Aspirin prevention of colorectal adenomas in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) are controversial.

METHODS

We conducted a biomarker-based clinical study in eight FAP patients treated with enteric-coated low-dose Aspirin (100 mg daily for three months) to explore whether the drug targets mainly platelet cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 or affects extraplatelet cellular sources expressing COX-isozymes and/or off-target effects in colorectal adenomas.

RESULTS

In FAP patients, low-dose Aspirin-acetylated platelet COX-1 at Serine529 (>70%) was associated with an almost complete inhibition of platelet thromboxane (TX) B₂ generation ex vivo (serum TXB₂). However, enhanced residual urinary 11-dehydro-TXB₂ and urinary PGEM, primary metabolites of TXA₂ and prostaglandin (PG)E₂, respectively, were detected in association with incomplete acetylation of COX-1 in normal colorectal biopsies and adenomas. Proteomics of adenomas showed that Aspirin significantly modulated only eight proteins. The upregulation of vimentin and downregulation of HBB (hemoglobin subunit beta) distinguished two groups with high vs. low residual 11-dehydro-TXB₂ levels, possibly identifying the nonresponders and responders to Aspirin.

CONCLUSIONS

Although low-dose Aspirin appropriately inhibited the platelet, persistently high systemic TXA₂ and PGE₂ biosynthesis were found, plausibly for a marginal inhibitory effect on prostanoid biosynthesis in the colorectum. Novel chemotherapeutic strategies in FAP can involve blocking the effects of TXA₂ and PGE₂ signaling with receptor antagonists.

Evidence for PTGER4, PSCA, and MBOAT7 as risk genes for gastric cancer on the genome and transcriptome level

Genetic associations between variants on chromosome 5p13 and 8q24 and gastric cancer (GC) have been previously reported in the Asian population. We aimed to replicate these findings and to characterize the associations at the genome and transcriptome level. We performed a fine‐mapping association study in 1926 GC patients and 2012 controls of European descent using high dense SNP marker sets on both chromosomal regions. Next, we performed expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analyses using gastric transcriptome data from 143 individuals focusing on the GC associated variants. On chromosome 5p13 the strongest association was observed at rs6872282 (P = 2.53 × 10⁻⁰⁴) and on chromosome 8q24 at rs2585176 (P = 1.09 × 10⁻⁰⁹). On chromosome 5p13 we found cis‐eQTL effects with an upregulation of PTGER4 expression in GC risk allele carrier (P = 9.27 × 10⁻¹¹). On chromosome 8q24 we observed cis‐eQTL effects with an upregulation of PSCA expression in GC risk allele carrier (P = 2.17 × 10⁻⁴⁷). In addition, we found trans‐eQTL effects for the same variants on 8q24 with a downregulation of MBOAT7 expression in GC risk allele carrier (P = 3.11 × 10⁻⁰⁹). In summary, we confirmed and refined the previously reported GC associations at both chromosomal regions. Our data point to shared etiological factors between Asians and Europeans. Furthermore, our data imply an upregulated expression of PTGER4 and PSCA as well as a downregulated expression of MBOAT7 in gastric tissue as risk‐conferring GC pathomechanisms.

Relevance of DNA repair gene polymorphisms to gastric cancer risk and phenotype

Variations in DNA repair genes have been reported as key factors in gastric cancer (GC) susceptibility but results among studies are inconsistent. We aimed to assess the relevance of DNA repair gene polymorphisms and environmental factors to GC risk and phenotype in a Caucasian population in Spain. Genomic DNA from 603 patients with primary GC and 603 healthy controls was typed for 123 single nucleotide polymorphisms in DNA repair genes using the Illumina platform. Helicobacter pylori infection with CagA strains (odds ratio (OR): 1.99; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.55–2.54), tobacco smoking (OR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.22–2.57), and family history of GC (OR: 2.87; 95% CI: 1.85–4.45) were identified as independent risk factors for GC. By contrast, the TP53 rs9894946A (OR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.56–0.96), TP53 rs1042522C (OR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.56–0.96), and BRIP1 rs4986764T (OR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.38–0.78) variants were associated with lower GC risk. Significant associations with specific anatomopathological GC subtypes were also observed, most notably in the ERCC4 gene with the rs1799801C, rs2238463G, and rs3136038T variants being inversely associated with cardia GC risk. Moreover, the XRCC3 rs861528 allele A was significantly increased in the patient subgroup with diffuse GC (OR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.30–2.37). Our data show that specific TP53, BRIP1, ERCC4, and XRCC3 polymorphisms are relevant in susceptibility to GC risk and specific subtypes in Caucasians.

Rate of detection of advanced neoplasms in proximal colon by simulated sigmoidoscopy vs fecal immunochemical tests

BACKGROUND & AIMS

We compared the ability of biennial fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) and one-time sigmoidoscopy to detect colon side-specific advanced neoplasms in a population-based, multicenter, nationwide, randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

We identified asymptomatic men and women, 50-69 years old, through community health registries and randomly assigned them to groups that received a single colonoscopy examination or biennial FIT. Sigmoidoscopy yield was simulated from results obtained from the colonoscopy group, according to the criteria proposed in the UK Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Trial for colonoscopy referral. Patients who underwent FIT and were found to have ≥75 ng hemoglobin/mL were referred for colonoscopy. Data were analyzed from 5059 subjects in the colonoscopy group and 10,507 in the FIT group. The main outcome was rate of detection of any advanced neoplasm proximal to the splenic flexure.

RESULTS

Advanced neoplasms were detected in 317 subjects (6.3%) in the sigmoidoscopy simulation group compared with 288 (2.7%) in the FIT group (odds ratio for sigmoidoscopy, 2.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.93-2.70; P = .0001). Sigmoidoscopy also detected advanced distal neoplasia in a higher percentage of patients than FIT (odds ratio, 2.61; 95% confidence interval, 2.20-3.10; P = .0001). The methods did not differ significantly in identifying patients with advanced proximal neoplasms (odds ratio, 1.17; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-1.76; P = .44). This was probably due to the lower performance of both strategies in detecting patients with proximal lesions (sigmoidoscopy detected these in 19.1% of patients and FIT in 14.9% of patients) vs distal ones (sigmoidoscopy detected these in 86.8% of patients and FIT in 33.5% of patients). Sigmoidoscopy, but not FIT, detected proximal lesions in lower percentages of women (especially those 50-59 years old) than men.

CONCLUSIONS

Sigmoidoscopy and FIT have similar limitations in detecting advanced proximal neoplasms, which depend on patients' characteristics; sigmoidoscopy underperforms for women 50-59 years old. Screening strategies should be designed on the basis of target population to increase effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT00906997.

Modifiable endoscopic factors that influence the adenoma detection rate in colorectal cancer screening colonoscopies

BACKGROUND

Adenoma detection rate (ADR) has become the most important quality indicator for colonoscopy.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate which modifiable factors, directly related to the endoscopic procedure, influenced the ADR in screening colonoscopies.

DESIGN

Observational, nested study.

SETTING

Multicenter, randomized, controlled trials.

PATIENTS

Asymptomatic people aged 50 to 69 years were eligible for a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial designed to compare colonoscopy and fecal immunochemical testing in colorectal cancer screening. A total of 4539 individuals undergoing a direct screening colonoscopy were included in this study.

INTERVENTION

Colonoscopy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Bowel cleansing, sedation, withdrawal time in normal colonoscopies, and cecal intubation were analyzed as possible predictors of adenoma detection by using logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age and sex.

RESULTS

In multivariate analysis, after adjustment for age and sex, factors independently related to the ADR were a mean withdrawal time longer than 8 minutes (odds ratio [OR] 1.51; 95% CI, 1.17-1.96) in normal colonoscopies and split preparation (OR 1.26; 95% CI, 1.01-1.57). For advanced adenomas, only withdrawal time maintained statistical significance in the multivariate analysis. For proximal adenomas, withdrawal time and cecal intubation maintained independent statistical significance, whereas only withdrawal time longer than 8 minutes and a <10-hour period between the end of preparation and colonoscopy showed independent associations for distal adenomas.

LIMITATIONS

Only endoscopic variables have been analyzed.

CONCLUSION

Withdrawal time was the only modifiable factor related to the ADR in colorectal cancer screening colonoscopies associated with an increased detection rate of overall, advanced, proximal, and distal adenomas.

Prognostic role of host cyclooxygenase and cytokine genotypes in a Caucasian cohort of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma

Background

Genetic factors influencing the prognosis of gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) are not well known. Given the relevance of cytokines and other pro-inflammatory mediators in cancer progression and invasiveness, we aimed to assess the prognostic role of several functional cytokine and cyclooxygenase gene polymorphisms in patients with GAC.

Methodology

Genomic DNA from 380 Spanish Caucasian patients with primary GAC was genotyped for 23 polymorphisms in pro-inflammatory (IL1B, TNFA, LTA, IL6, IL12p40), anti-inflammatory (IL4, IL1RN, IL10, TGFB1) cytokine, and cyclooxygenase (PTGS1 and PTGS2) genes by PCR, RFLP and TaqMan assays. Clinical and histological information was collected prospectively. Survival curves were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log rank test. Outcome was determined by analysis of Cox proportional hazards, adjusting for confounding factors.

Results

The median follow-up period and median overall survival (OS) time were 9.9 months (range 0.4–120.3) and 10.9 months (95% CI: 8.9–14.1), respectively. Multivariate analysis identified tumor stages III (HR, 3.23; 95% CI:2–5.22) and IV (HR, 5.5; 95% CI: 3.51–8.63) as independent factors associated with a significantly reduced OS, whereas surgical treatment (HR: 0.44; 95%CI: 0.3–0.6) was related to a better prognosis of the disease. Concerning genetic factors, none of the 23 polymorphisms evaluated in the current study did influence survival. Moreover, no gene-environment interactions on GAC prognosis were observed.

Conclusions

Our results show that, in our population, the panel of selected pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine, and cyclooxygenase gene polymorphisms are not relevant in determining the prognosis of gastric adenocarcinoma.

Relevance of GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 gene polymorphisms to gastric cancer susceptibility and phenotype

Human glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are phase II metabolizing enzymes that play a key role in protecting against cancer by detoxifying numerous potentially cytotoxic/genotoxic compounds. The genes encoding the human GST isoenzymes GSTM(mu)1, GSTT(theta)1 and GSTP(pi)1 harbour polymorphisms, which have been considered important modifiers of the individual risk for environmentally induced cancers such as gastric cancer (GC). However, results are inconsistent among studies from different geographic areas and ethnic groups. Our goal was to perform a nationwide, case-control study in Spain to evaluate the relevance of several functional GST gene polymorphisms and environmental factors to GC risk and phenotype. DNA from 557 GC patients and 557 sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HC) was typed for two deletions in the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes and two SNPs in the GSTP1 gene (rs1695 and rs1138272) using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods. Logistic regression analysis identified Helicobacter pylori infection with CagA strains [odds ratio (OR): 2.36; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.78-3.15], smoking habit (OR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.48-2.97) and family history of GC (OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 2.02-5.16) as independent risk factors for GC. No differences in the frequencies of GSTM1 or GSTT1 null genotypes were observed between cases and controls (GSTM1: 50.8% vs. 48%; GSTT1: 21.5% vs. 21%). Moreover, simultaneous carriage of both, the GSTM1 and the GSTT1 null genotypes, was almost identical in both groups (10.7% in GC vs. 10.6% in HC). In addition, no significant differences in GSTP1 Ile105Val (rs1695) and GSTP1 Val114Ala (rs1138272) genotype distribution were observed between GC patients and controls. Subgroup analysis for age, gender, Helicobacter pylori status, smoking habits, family history of GC, anatomic location and histological subtype revealed no significant association between GST variants and GC risk. Our results show that the GST polymorphisms evaluated in this study are not relevant when determining the individual susceptibility to GC or phenotype in a South-European population.

Management of colonic diverticular disease with poorly absorbed antibiotics and other therapies

Colonic diverticular disease is common in Western countries and its prevalence increases with age. The large majority of patients (80-85%) will remain entirely asymptomatic throughout their life. In symptomatic cases, most patients will have diverticulosis without inflammation while the remainder will have diverticulitis with or without complications. About 1-2% will require hospitalization and 0.5% will require surgery. Factors predicting the development of symptoms remain to be identified. However, it is generally recognized that diverticular disease is probably related to complex interactions between colon structure, intestinal motility, diet, and genetic features. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated an association between diverticulosis and diets that are low in fiber and high in refined carbohydrates. Although the causes of symptom development are still unclear, it is thought that previous episodes of intestinal inflammation may play a role. Changes in intestinal microflora could be one of the putative mechanisms responsible for low-grade inflammation. In patients with uncomplicated diverticulosis, a diet abundant in fruit and vegetables is recommended. The current therapeutic approaches in preventing recurrence of symptoms are based on nonabsorbable antibiotics, mesalazine, and/or probiotics. Cyclic rifaximin administration seems to be an adequate approach to relieving symptoms and preventing acute diverticulitis in patients with symptomatic diverticulosis.

Normal values in ambulatory oesophageal pH monitoring at two levels in Spain

AIM

Upper oesophageal pH monitoring may play a significant role in the study of extra-oesophageal GERD, but limited normal data are available to date. Our aim was to develop a large series of normal values of proximal oesophageal acidification.

METHODS

155 healthy volunteers (74 male) participated in a multi-centre national study including oesophageal manometry and 24 hours oesophageal pH monitoring using two electrodes individually located 5 cm above the LOS and 3 cm below the UOS.

RESULTS

130 participants with normal manometry completed all the study. Twelve of them were excluded for inadequate pH tests. Twenty-seven subjects had abnormal conventional pH. The remaining 91 subjects (37 M; 18-72 yrs age range) formed the reference group for normality. At the level of the upper oesophagus, the 95th percentile of the total number of reflux events was 30, after eliminating the meal periods 22, and after eliminating also the pseudo-reflux events 18. Duration of the longest episodes was 5, 4 and 4 min, respectively (3.5 min in upright and 0.5 min in supine). The upper limit for the percentage of acid exposure time was 1.35, 1.05 and 0.95%, respectively. No reflux events were recorded in the upper oesophagus in 8 cases.

CONCLUSION

This is the largest series of normal values of proximal oesophageal reflux that confirm the existence of acid reflux at that level in healthy subjects, in small quantity and unrelated to age or gender. Our data support the convenience of excluding pseudo-reflux events and meal periods from analysis.

Relevance of IL-1 and TNF gene polymorphisms on interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha gastric mucosal production

We aimed to evaluate the influence of Helicobacter pylori infection and IL-1/TNF gene polymorphisms on interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha gastric mucosal production. IL-1beta and TNF-alpha levels in homogenized biopsy specimens taken from the antrum and corpus of 81 patients were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Genomic DNA was typed for the IL1B-511, IL1B+3954, variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) IL1RN, TNFA-308, TNFA-238, LTA NcoI, and LTA Bsi gene polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction, restriction fragment length polymorphism, and TaqMan assays. H. pylori infection and CagA/VacA antibody status were determined by Western blot. IL-1beta and TNF-alpha protein levels were significantly higher in the gastric antrum of patients infected with H. pylori compared with uninfected patients [9.54 (5.07-16.28) vs. 4.55 (3.69-8.28) pg IL-1beta/mg protein, p = 0.004, and 1.5 (0.7-2.71) vs. 0.63 (0.3-1.26) pg TNF-alpha/mg protein, p = 0.001]. Among H. pylori-infected individuals, carriers of the IL1RN*2 allele had significantly higher antrum mucosal IL-1beta levels than noncarriers [15.97 (9.59-26.6) vs. 10.08 (7.72-13.33), p = 0.008]. No association between gastric mucosal TNF-alpha levels and genotypes of the TNFA and LTA gene polymorphisms was reported. Our results indicate that the VNTR polymorphism of the IL1RN gene influences IL-1beta gastric mucosal production in patients infected with H. pylori.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and lower gastrointestinal complications

In addition to the upper GI tract, NSAIDs can damage the small bowel and the colon. NSAID enteropathy is frequent and may be present in more than 60% of patients taking these drugs long term. In most cases, damage is subclinical, including increased mucosal permeability, inflammation, erosions, ulceration, but other more serious clinical outcomes such as anemia, and overall bleeding, perforation, obstruction, diverticulitis and deaths have also been described. The magnitude of these serious outcomes from the lower GI tract is not well defined, but recent data suggest that they may be as frequent and severe as upper GI complications. Contrary to what happens in the upper GI tract, treatment and prevention of NSAID enteropathy is difficult, since the pathogenic mechanisms are different and not well understood. Among other options, misoprostol, antibiotics, and sulphasalazine have been proved to be effective in animal models, but they have not been properly tested in humans. Selective COX-2 inhibition is emerging as a potential alternative to tNSAIDs in the prevention of damage in the lower GI tract in rheumatologic patients. Preliminary studies in healthy volunteers have shown that these drugs are associated with no or less small bowel damage than tNSAIDs plus PPI, although their long-term effects in patients need to be properly tested. Post hoc analysis of previous outcome studies focused on complications of upper GI tract or cardiovascular events have shown contradictory results. Data from one ongoing trial comparing celecoxib versus diclofenac plus PPI and examining serious outcomes from the whole GI tract will probably provide new insights in this area.

Trends in Barrett's esophagus diagnosis in Southern Europe: implications for surveillance

The incidence of Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma has increased in Western countries in recent decades. The aim of this study is to describe the changes in incidence and prevalence of BE diagnosis, dysplasia, and adenocarcinoma development in BE patients in a South-European Mediterranean area. Retrospective population-based analyses of endoscopy and pathology reports from 1976 to 2001 was performed. Data from patients with diagnosis of BE and/or esophageal carcinoma were collected. The study period was divided in four quartiles for statistical calculations; parametric and nonparametric tests were used. A 6.9-fold increase was found in the diagnosis of long-segment BE from the first to the fourth quartile, and a 9.3-fold increase in short-segment BE from 1995 to 2000, in contrast to a much smaller increase of 1.9-fold increase in the number of upper gastrointestinal endoscopies. The adjusted incidence of BE diagnosis increased from 0.73 to 9.73 cases/100,000 (first to fourth quartile, respectively) and the adjusted prevalence from 6.51 to 76.04 cases/100,000 (1985-2001). The incidence of dysplasia was 2.13% per year (95% confidence interval: 0.05-11.3%) - 1.78% for low-grade dysplasia and 0.36% for high-grade dysplasia - giving a total incidence of 1 per 47 patient-years. The incidence of adenocarcinoma during follow-up was 0.48% per year (95% confidence interval: 0.006-2.62%), for an incidence of 1 per 210 patient-years. Nineteen patients with BE (14 long-segment BE, 5 short-segment BE) were diagnosed with esophageal adenocarcinoma, with eight being diagnosed during endoscopic surveillance. Only 14 (8%) adenocarcinoma patients diagnosed during the study period had a history of BE. BE diagnosis has dramatically increased over recent decades in our population, unrelated to an increase in endoscopies. Progression to low-grade dysplasia and adenocarcinoma is rare. Surveillance may have a low impact on the survival of adenocarcinoma patients in Southern Europe.

Effects of long-term cyclo-oxygenase 2 selective and acid inhibition on Barrett's oesophagus

BACKGROUND

There is an overexpression of cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2) in Barrett's oesophagus (BO).

AIM

To determine the long-term effect of a COX-2 inhibitor on cellular mechanisms involved in BO.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial was conducted in BO patients allocated to continue the usual proton pump inhibitor (PPI) alone treatment, or PPI combined with rofecoxib (25 mg/day) for 6 months. Cell proliferation index and COX-2 expression in BO glands was determined in biopsy specimens at baseline and after treatment. Cell apoptosis, cyclin D1, p53 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression was also explored in a subset of patients. Student-t test and the U-Mann-Whitney test were used for quantitative and ordinal variables.

RESULTS

Of 62 patients, 58 completed the study. A higher proportion of patients on rofecoxib + PPI exhibited a decrease in COX-2 expression compared to those treated with PPI alone, but cell proliferation index was not affected. Unlike PPI alone, rofecoxib + PPI was associated with an increase in the apoptotic cell index, a decrease in p53 cell staining and VEGF expression in mucosal vessels. No effect on low-grade dysplasia or cyclin D1 was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of rofecoxib to PPI therapy does not affect cell proliferation index in BO cells after 6 months of therapy, but does reduce COX-2 and VEGF expression and increases cell apoptosis.

Gastric cancer susceptibility is not linked to pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms in whites: a Nationwide Multicenter Study in Spain

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Recent studies have reported an association between cytokine gene polymorphisms and GC risk. However, results are inconsistent among studies from different geographic regions and ethnic groups. Our goal was to evaluate the influence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and host genetic factors on GC susceptibility in a population of Spanish white GC patients.

METHODS

DNA from 404 unrelated patients with GC and 404 sex- and age-matched healthy controls was typed for several functional polymorphisms in pro- (IL-1B, TNFA, LTA, IL-12p40) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4, IL-1RN, IL-10, TGFB1) genes by PCR, RFLP, and TaqMan assays. H. pylori infection and CagA/VacA antibody status were also determined by western blot serology.

RESULTS

Logistic regression analysis identified H. pylori infection with cagA strains (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.77-3.66), smoking habit (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.25-2.93), and positive family history of GC (OR 3.67, 95% CI 2.01-6.71) as independent risk factors for GC. None of the cytokine gene polymorphisms analyzed in this study were associated with susceptibility to GC development, whether GC patients were analyzed as a group or categorized according to anatomic location or histological subtype. Some simultaneous combinations of proinflammatory genotypes reportedly associated with greater GC risk yielded no significant differences between patients and controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that, at least in some white populations, the contribution of the cytokine gene polymorphisms evaluated in this study (IL-1B, IL-1RN, IL-12p40, LTA, IL-10, IL-4, and TGF-B1) to GC susceptibility may be less relevant than previously reported.

TGFB1 gene polymorphisms: their relevance in the susceptibility to Helicobacter pylori-related diseases

Recent studies have revealed elevated expression of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) in gastric mucosa of patients with gastric cancer (GC) and those undergoing ulcer repair. As production of TGF-beta1 is genetically regulated, we aimed to assess whether functional polymorphisms of the TGFB1 gene are involved in susceptibility to and clinical characteristics of Helicobacter pylori-related diseases. DNA from 142 unrelated Spanish patients with GC, 200 with peptic ulcer and 342 healthy controls was typed for the MspA1I T+869C, and the Sau96I G+915C polymorphisms of the TGFB1 gene using polymerase chain reaction and RFLP analysis. H. pylori infection and CagA/VacA antibody status were determined by Western blot in patients and controls. H. pylori infection (odds ratio (OR): 11.44; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.45-29.42; P<0.001) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (OR: 5.07; 95% CI: 2.53-10.16; P<0.001) were identified as independent risks factors for duodenal ulcer (DU), whereas the TGFB1+869(*)C/C genotype was associated with reduced risk of developing the disease (OR: 0.32; 95% CI=0.15-0.68; P=0.003). Our results show that the TGFB1 T+869C gene polymorphism is involved in the susceptibility to DU and provide further evidence that host genetic factors play a key role in the pathogenesis of H. pylori-related diseases.

CagA-positive Helicobacter pylori infection is not associated with decreased risk of Barrett's esophagus in a population with high H. pylori infection rate

BACKGROUND & AIM

The role that H. pylori infection plays in the development of and Barrett's esophagus (BE) is uncertain. We tested the hypothesis that infection with cagA+ Helicobacter pylori strains protects against the development of BE.

METHODS

We studied 104 consecutive patients, residents in an area with a high prevalence of H. pylori infection, with BE and 213 sex- and age-matched controls. H. pylori infection and CagA antibody status were determined by western blot serology.

RESULTS

H. pylori prevalence was higher in patients with BE than in controls (87.5% vs. 74.6%; OR. 2.3; 95% CI: 1.23-4.59). Increasing age was associated with a higher prevalence of H. pylori (p < 0.05). The prevalence of CagA+ H. pylori serology was similar in patients with BE and controls (64.4% vs. 54.5%; NS). Type I H. pylori infection (CagA+ and VacA+) was similar in patients with BE and controls (44.2% vs. 41.3%; NS). Logistic regression analysis identified alcohol (O.R. 7.09; 95% CI 2.23-22.51), and H. pylori infection (OR: 2.41; 95%CI: 1.20-4.84) but not CagA+ serology as independent factors.

CONCLUSION

Neither H. pylori infection nor H. pylori infection by CagA+ strains reduce the risk of BE in a population with high prevalence of H. pylori infection.

Effect of exogenous administration of transforming growth factor-beta and famotidine on the healing of duodenal ulcer under the impact of indomethacin

BACKGROUND

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs delay ulcer healing and cause refractory peptic ulcers in humans.

OBJECTIVE

To study the effects of growth factors on experimental duodenal ulcer healing in indomethacin-treated rats.

METHODS

Duodenal ulcers were induced in male Wistar rats by the serosal application of 75% acetic acid for 10 s. Rats were then treated with indomethacin (2 mg/kg/day; s.c.), transforming growth factor beta (15 ng locally injected subserosally at the ulcer site) or famotidine (5 mg/kg/day; p.o.), vehicle or combinations of treatments. On day 5, 8 or 12, rats were sacrificed and the ulcer area planimetrically measured under a dissecting microscope. Macroscopic area, microscopic diameter, collagen content and mucosal regeneration were assessed in histological preparations. Gastric secretion was assessed also in the pylorus-ligated rat-model. Data expressed as median and ranges were analyzed by non-parametric test.

RESULTS

Indomethacin delayed ulcer healing but transforming growth factor-beta and famotidine improved ulcer healing and reversed the effects of indomethacin. Maximal differences were observed on day 8. Transforming growth factor-beta was associated with an increase in epithelial and granulation tissue cell proliferation. Famotidine induced a profound inhibition of gastric secretion and increased collagen secretion but it did not affect cell proliferation.

CONCLUSIONS

Transforming growth factor-beta and famotidine accelerate ulcer healing delayed by indomethacin.

[Peripheral neuropathy associated with intestinal inflammatory disease]

The association of outlying peripheral neuropathy and inflammatory bowel disease is a rare fact leaving aside factors like the deficit of intestinal absorption of vitamins or the neurotoxicity of drugs employed for the treatment of the inflammatory bowel disease. We presented a series of four patients with this association, to whom a retrospective study was carried out. In all cases polineuropathy followed a course parallel to the inflammatory bowel disease, being acute and reversible in two cases. The polyneuropathy could be attributed to a deficit of vitamin B12 in one case and to metronidazole neurotoxicity in the other; in the remaining two cases the polineuropathy was chronic and no etiological factor could be found except for the own activity of the inflammatory bowel disease. We think that the neuropathy can represent a rare extraintestinal manifestation of the illness with a common autoimmune pathogenic mechanism. In one of our cases, the nerve biopsy demonstrated an axonal neuropathy with an alteration of the epineural vessels which showed a healed aspect.

Esophageal motility and intraesophageal pH patterns in patients with esophagitis and chronic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use

Clinical reports suggest that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) use might induce esophageal symptoms and damage, including esophagitis, but experimental data are conflicting, and some indicate that NSAIDs improve mucosal damage. It is not known whether patients with endoscopically diagnosed esophagitis during NSAID use have different baseline reflux patterns from patients with reflux esophagitis and no NSAID use. Two groups of patients with and without chronic NSAID use and esophagitis were prospectively studied. Twenty-four-hour pH monitoring and esophageal manometry were performed in all patients who were free of NSAID and any other drug use during tests. Esophageal motility and reflux patterns did not differ in patients with esophagitis regardless of the presence or absence of NSAID use. However, the subgroup of patients with grades II and III esophagitis and chronic NSAID use had a significantly greater lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure and a less severe intraesophageal pH profile than patients without NSAID use. In agreement with clinical reports, these results suggest that NSAID use may aggravate an otherwise milder acid-related esophageal disease in a subgroup of patients.

[Deficiency polyneuropathy secondary to immunoproliferative disease of the small intestine]

We report a new case of immunoproliferative small intestinal disease with neurological involvement expressed as deficiency polyneuropathy. In spite of non identifiable plasmatic paraprotein, the use of immunohistochemical techniques showed the characteristic proliferation in the intestinal mucosa of plasma cells with a prevalence of IgA cells, which define this disease.

[Gastric emptying of solids, acid secretion and tobacco in duodenal ulcer]

We study in a group of patients with endoscopically diagnosed duodenal ulcer (19; 17 males) and controls (11; 7 males) the gastric emptying of solids through scintigraphy and gastric acid secretion by standard tests. In the same way we investigated prospectively some clinical data, specially smoking habits. As a whole, patients with duodenal ulcer showed an emptying of solids slightly faster than controls (T 1/2-minutes-: 85.4 +/- 28.6 in patients with duodenal ulcer versus 116.9 +/- 46.5 in controls, p less than 0.03). However, most of our patients (15 of 19 or 79%) were found to have a normal emptying rate. No correlation was found between secretory outputs and gastric emptying. Smokers with duodenal ulcer had a faster emptying that non-smokers with duodenal ulcer (T 1/2 74.8 +/- 30.05 vs. 99.91 +/- 19.86; p = 0.05).

[Gammagraphy with labeled leukocytes as an activity and extension index of Crohn disease]

The knowledge of the location and extent of bowel involment and disease activity can be an important aspect on the evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease. Thirty five patients of Crohn's disease (CD) have been studied in this sense. We performed a total of 44 scintigraphic examinations using 99mTc-HMPAO labeled leukocytes and the results were compared with several clinical-biological indexes and with radiology and endoscopy. The Tc scan was the most sensitive (84.3%) and specific (100%) activity index and showed an excellent correlation with radiology and/or endoscopy in the assessment of extent of disease. Leukocyte scanning brought useful information for the management of stenosis in CD.

[The epidemiological aspects of Crohn's disease in Zaragoza]

Crohn's disease (CD) incidence is characterized by a wide variability in different countries. In our area it hasn't developed yet any epidemiologic study about this disease. We have reviewed fifty-four new cases diagnosed in Zaragoza University Clinical Hospital (Spain) during the period 1974-1988. The most striking facts were that the incidence of Crohn's Disease increased steadily during the 15-year period studied and the existence of a statistical association between smoking and CD. Other features were similar those previously described in the literature.