2. TEMAS A TRATAR
1. Introducción
2. Epidemiología
3. Factores etiológicos
4. Factores predisponentes
5. Fisiopatología
6. Historia natural y patrones de
Falla
7. Anatomía
8. Histología
9. Presentación Clínica
10.Estudios Diagnósticos
11.Estadiaje
3. INTRODUCCIÓN
Predominio de 2 histologías
•Adenocarcinoma y Escamoso
•Depende de los factores asociados
Incidencia Anual
•456.000 casos nuevos por año en el mundo
Supervivencia
•15 a 25 % sobrevive a 5 años
Gastroenterology 2015;149:1700–1715
Cancer Epidemiology 41 (2016) 88–95
5. EPIDEMIOLOGÍA
Área de alta incidencia (100 casos /100.000 hab)
Turquía, Norte de Irán, naciones del sur de la antigua Unión Soviética, China
Alta incidencia en hombres (15 casos /100.00 hab)
Clavados, Francia
Miyagi, Japón
Hong Kong
Alta incidencia en mujeres (5 casos /100.000 hab)
Mumbai, India
Shanghai, China
Escocia
Riesgo de CE por sexo, durante toda la vida
0.5 % hombres y 0.3 % mujeres
DeVita Principles and Practice of Oncology. Esophageal Cancer. 9th edition 2012.
Cancer Epidemiology 41 (2016) 88–95
6. EPIDEMIOLOGÍA
Estados Unidos
Infrecuente 1 % de riesgo de desarrollarlo
Incidencia + alta
Afroamericanos 9/100.000 personas-año (va en ↓)
Hombres blancos 8/100.000 personas-año
H > M
Ecamoso > Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma ↑incidencia en 400 % en WM y 300 % WF
> obesidad y ERGE
Mejoría en mortalidad
Supervivencia 5 % en1970’s vs 17 % en 2000’s
4.8 muertes por 100.000 hab
DeVita Principles and Practice of Oncology. Esophageal Cancer. 9th edition 2012.
Cancer Epidemiology 41 (2016) 88–95
7. EPIDEMIOLOGÍA EN USA (MODELO
OCCIDENTAL)
Cancer Epidemiology 41 (2016) 88–95
Adenocarcinoma
9. INCIDENCIA Y SUPERVIVENCIA
SEGÚN ETAPA
ETAPA INCIDENCIA
(%)
SUPERVIVENCIA/5AÑOS
(%)
LOCAL 21 39.6
REGIONA
L
30 21.1
DISTANT
E
37 3.8
Cancer Epidemiology 41 (2016) 88–95
10. FACTORES ETIOLÓGICOS
Tabaquismo
65-75 % casos
> 6 meses
Dosis-respuesta
50 % de reducción de riesgo al dejar de fumar
↑ dos veces el riesgo de Adenocarcinoma en Fumadores pesados
Riesgo no reduce por dejar de fumar carcinogénesis en etapa temprana
Nitrosaminas, hidrocarbonos policíclicos aromáticos y aminas aromáticas
Polimorfismo de TRANSFERASAS DE GLUTATIÓN
CYP1A1, GSTM1 y GSTP1
DeVita Principles and Practice of Oncology. Esophageal Cancer. 9th edition 2012.
Gastroenterology 2015;149:1700–1715
Cancer Epidemiology 41 (2016) 88–95
11. FACTOR DE RIESGO-ETILISMO
Etilismo
80 % casos en países occidentales
y subdesarrollados
Efecto directo, nutricional,
irritativo mecánico, susceptibilidad
a otros carcinógenos.
No factor de riesgo para
adenocarcinoma
Acetaldehído
Carcinógeno tipo 1 para Cáncer Escamoso
Polimorfismo de ALDH2 Glu504Lys
Forma aductos de DNA
Induce mutaciones en gen supresor de
tumor TP53
G:C A:T y G:C T:A
DeVita Principles and Practice of Oncology. Esophageal Cancer. 9th
Gastroenterology 2015;149:1700–1715
Cancer Epidemiology 41 (2016) 88–95
15. FACTORES PREDISPONENTES
Factor Predisponente Relación
Dieta y nutrición Frutas y vegetales factor protector (vitaminas A, C, E, carotenos, selenio)
Bebidas muy calientes y dieta baja en selenio predisposición.
Estatus socioeconómico Bajo estado socieconómico ↑ riesgo de Cáncer escamoso y adenocarcinoma
(menor grado). 39 y 69 % para WM y BM.
Exposición a percloretileno, asbesto, sílice, polvo metálico, virus
Obesidad > IMC ↑ adenocarcinoma hasta 7 veces más. (adenocarcinoma)
Reflujo Gastroesofágico Frecuencia, severidad y cronicidad
↑ 2 a 16 veces adenocarcinoma
10-15 % desarrollará Esófago de Barrett
Infección por H. pylori Cepas cagA+ relación inversa con riesgo de adenocarcinoma
Incremento de riesgo de escamoso por aumento de nitrosaminas
Vía de la Anemia de Fanconi Desorden autosómico recesivo. Inestabilidad genómica, falla de MO,
cánceres hematológicos, tumores escamosos de cérvix, CyC y esófago.
Mutación en FANCD1
DeVita Principles and Practice of Oncology. Esophageal Cancer. 9th edition 2012.
Gastroenterology 2015;149:1700–1715
Cancer Epidemiology 41 (2016) 88–95
16. ESÓFAGO DE BARRETT
Metaplasia intestinal que reemplaza el
epitelio escamoso del esófago distal
↑ riesgo de 40 a 125 veces
1.5 % de todas las endoscopías
ERGE sintomático 6-12 %
ERGE asintomático 1.2 %
Progresión 0.22 % por año (0.12-0.40
% /AÑO)
1-2 % de la población general
< 5 % de los ptes con AdenoCa
operados tienen esófago de Barrett
1.5-2 Millones de personas con EB en
USA
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 41: 414-424, 2012
15 % de personas con ERGE
N Engl J Med 2014;371:836-45.
17. ESÓFAGO DE BARRETTEndoscopía anual para bajo
grado
↑producción de COX-2
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 41: 414-424, 2012
LESIÓN PREMALIGNA PARA
ADENOCARCINOMA
1 % 5 %
N Engl J Med 2014;371:836-45.
21. DISPLASIA ESCAMOSA
N Engl J Med 2014;371:836-45.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2013 Apr; 22(4): 540–552.
• 3-38 % prevalencia
• Alteración de P53 96 %
• Alteración de p16INK4a 68%
RR 2.2 (0.7-
7.5)
RR 15.8(5.9-
42.2)
72.6 (29.8-
176.9)
24 %
50% 74%
8%
Lesión premaligna para Cáncer Escamoso de
Esófago
22. FACTORES PREDISPONENTES
FACTOR PREDISPONENTE RELACIÓN
Tilosis o Howell-Evans Queratoderma palmoplantar no epidermolítica focal. Hiperqueratosis
de palmas y plantas con papilomas esofágicos. 17q25. mutación de
RHBDF2. ESCC HEREDITARIO.
Síndrome de Plummer Vinson
Patterson-Kelly
Queilitis, glositis, uñas quebradizas, esplenomegalia, anemia
ferropénica y membranas esofágicas. 10 % CE
Lesión cáustica 40 a 50 años luego de lesión inicial. CE de 1/3 medio
Acalasia Secundario a aumento de presión en EEI. 16 a 30 veces riesgo de
ESCC. 17 años después de inicio.
VPH Asia y Sudáfrica. Regiones de alta incidencia. 17 % ptes en China con
ESCC. E6 y E7 pRb y p53. No confirmado en países de baja
incidencia.
Maliginidad previa en tracto
aerodigestivo
Riesgo 4 % por año. 10 % CE (primario en CyC o Pulmón)
DeVita Principles and Practice of Oncology. Esophageal Cancer. 9th edition 2012.
Gastroenterology 2015;149:1700–1715
Cancer Epidemiology 41 (2016) 88–95
25. BIOLOGÍA MOLECULAR
SOBREEXPRESIÓN DE EGFR
Predice pobre respuesta a QT/RT
Factor pronóstico desfavorable
Disminución de OS a pesar de
esofagectomía en ESCC
DeVita Principles and Practice of Oncology. Esophageal Cancer. 9th edition 2012.
• Sobre expresado en 59.6 a 76 % de
ESCC
• Amplificado en 11-24 %
• Mutado 0-1.8 %
• 78.6 % mutaciones y/o amplificaciones
en vías de señalización (RAS Y AKT)
Gastroenterology 2015;149:1700–1715
26. BIOLOGÍA MOLECULAR: CICLINA D1
Sobreexpresión de Ciclina
D1
Pérdida del
alelo del locus
13q
50 %
DeVita Principles and Practice of Oncology. Esophageal Cancer. 9th edition 2012.
2-10 % de ESCC
Genes amplificados:
1. CCND1
46.4%
2. CDK4/CDK6
23.6%
3. MDM2
5.7%
Gastroenterology 2015;149:1700–1715
Factor predictivo y
pronóstico
27. BIOLOGÍA MOLECULAR: P16INK4A
90 % displasia de
Barrett
80 % Adenocarcinoma
Pérdida de p16INK4a y
P53
Locus 9p21
Factor predictivo y
pronóstico
DeVita Principles and Practice of Oncology. Esophageal Cancer. 9th edition 2012.Gastroenterology 2015;149:1700–1715
28. BIOLOGÍA
MOLECULAR
P53
80 % de mutación es
por Pérdida de
sensibilidad
Principal sitio de
mutación
83 % ESCC
90 % Adenocarcinoma
DeVita Principles and Practice of Oncology. Esophageal Cancer. 9th edition 2012.
29. BIOLOGÍA MOLECULAR
ACTIVACIÓN DE TELOMERASA
Activada en casi 100 % de los
Adenocarcinomas y Esófago de
Barrett
DeVita Principles and Practice of Oncology. Esophageal Cancer. 9th edition 2012.
30. OTRAS MUTACIONES
Mutación MSR-1
11 % de ptes con EB y Adenocarcinoma
Sobre-expresión de Ciclina D1
CRTC1
Codifica el factor de transcripción CREB
BARX1
Codifica una proteína para la
especificación esofágica
FOXP1
Codifica una proteína para el
desarrollo del esófago
Alteraciones Genéticas y
EB/AdenoCa
5 genes relevantes en desarrollo de
AdenoCa
N Engl J Med 2014;371:2499-509.
Genes relacionados con ESCC
(TP53, RB1, CDKN2A, PIK3CA, NOTCH1, and NFE2L2)
(ADAM29 and FAM135B)
31. HISTORIA NATURAL DE LA
ENFERMEDAD
Gastroenterology 2015;149:1700–1715
Evolución en el
tiempo
Tinciones con Lugol
Cromoendoscopía
SE: 92 %
ES: 94 %
32. HISTORIA NATURAL Y PATRONES
DE FALLA
Localmente o regionalmente avanzados
Falta de envoltura serosa mucha infiltración e invasión linfática
Pulmón, hígado y hueso
Principales sitios de metástasis a distancia
Mediana de supervivencia luego de esofagectomía
15-18 meses
Supevivencia a 5 años
20-25 %
Patrones de falla
Localización y tipo histológico
se relaciona a mejor tasa de recaída
a distancia y control locorregional
mejor control local que RT sola y
a distancia
ofrece control local pero no a
distancia
↓falla local 45 32 %
DeVita Principles and Practice of Oncology. Esophageal Cancer. 9th edition 2012.
35. ANATOMÍA
G. capa de epitelio estratificado
F. membrana mucosa
E. muscular de la mucosa
D. submucosa
C. capa muscular transversal
B. capa muscular longitudinal
A. capa fibrosa o Adventicia
DeVita Principles and Practice of Oncology. Esophageal Cancer. 9th edition 2012.
36. HISTOLOGÍA
Distribución por histología
40 % ESCAMOSO – USA y 70 % MUNDIAL
57 % ADENOCARCINOMA – USA y 30 %
MUNDIAL
Distribución
60 % TERCIO MEDIO
30 % TERCIO DISTAL
10 % TERCIO PROXIMAL
Abeloff M. Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology. 4th edition
39. PRESENTACIÓN CLÍNICA
SÍNTOMA DESCRIPCIÓN
Disfagia Progresiva. Enfermedad localmente avanzada.
Pérdida de peso 90 %
Dolor Odinofagia 20 %. Retroestornal, óseo.
Tos, estridor Irritación local, aspiración, comida no digerida, o infiltración
directa del árbol respiratorio (irresecable).
Disfonía Afección del N. Laríngeo Recurrente (irresecable)
Neumonía Fístula traqueoesofágica o invasión de estructuras vasculares.
Otras Hipercalcemia, compresión medular
Abeloff M. Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology. 4th edition
40. ABORDAJE
DIAGNÓSTICO
Escoger los estudios correctos
dependerá de la historia clínica
y probabilidad preclínica de
extensión de la enfermedad
EXÁMENES COMPLEMENTARIOS
NCCN Guidelines. Esophageal Cancer. Version 1,
2016.
43. ULTRASONIDO
ENDOSCÓPICO (EUS)
DETECCIÓN DE T3N1MX
SUPERIOR A TC para T y
N
Gastroenterology 2015;149:1700–1715
No óptimo para evaluar respuesta a
inducción o en lesiones estenósticas
56. PUNTOS CLAVE
8VA CAUSA DE CÁNCER Y 6TA CAUSA DE MUERTE POR CÁNCER EN EL
MUNDO
HISTOLOGÍA ESCAMOSA ES LA MÁS FRECUENTE (70-80 %)
ADENOCARCINOMA SE HA VUELTO MÁS FRECUENTE POR OBESIDAD Y ERGE
MUTACIÓN DE P53 MECANISMO MOLECULAR MÁS IMPORTANTE EN ESCC
TABAQUISMO, ETILISMO, OBESIDAD, ERGE, CAUSAS CONSTRICTIVAS EN
ESÓFAGO SON PRINCIPALES FACTORES DE RIESGO
ESÓFAGO DE BARRETT CON DISPLASIA DE BAJO GRADO (10%) Y ALTO
GRADO (40%) MAYOR RIESGO DE PROGRESIÓN A CÁNCER DE ESÓFAGO
DISFAGIA, TOS Y DOLOR SON LOS PRINCIPALES SÍNTOMAS
SOBREEXPRESIÓN DE EGFR, CICLINA D1 factores pronósticos y predictivos.
ALTA MORTALIDAD AÚN CON ESOFAGECTOMÍA
Notas del editor
one from north central China through the central Asian republics to northern Iran, and one from eastern to southern Africa
5-year survival rates for oesophageal adenocarcinoma in US SEER 18 registries, overall (black), and among whites (stripes) and blacks (grey).
We examined the effect of alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and flushing response
on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in a large-scale population-based cohort
study. 44,970 middle-aged and older Japanese men were followed. A total of 215 cases
of ESCC were newly diagnosed. Alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking are strongly
associated with the incidence of ESCC. Heavy alcohol consumption increased the risk of
ESCC especially among heavy smokers with the flushing response (HR = 3.41, 95% CI =
2.10–5.51). Strong effect modification was detected in heavy smokers. Our results suggest
that heavy alcohol consumption together with heavy smoking may increase the risk of
ESCC particularly in individuals with the flushing response.
Background
The causes of adenocarcinomas of
the esophagus and gastric cardia are poorly understood.
We conducted an epidemiologic investigation
of the possible association between gastroesophageal
reflux and these tumors.
Methods
We performed a nationwide, populationbased,
case–control study in Sweden. Case ascertainment
was rapid, and all cases were classified
uniformly. Information on the subjects’ history of
gastroesophageal reflux was collected in personal interviews.
The odds ratios were calculated by logistic
regression, with multivariate adjustment for potentially
confounding variables.
Results
Of the patients interviewed, the 189 with
esophageal adenocarcinoma and the 262 with adenocarcinoma
of the cardia constituted 85 percent of
the 529 patients in Sweden who were eligible for the
study during the period from 1995 through 1997. For
comparison, we interviewed 820 control subjects from
the general population and 167 patients with esophageal
squamous-cell carcinoma. Among persons with
recurrent symptoms of reflux, as compared with persons
without such symptoms, the odds ratios were
7.7 (95 percent confidence interval, 5.3 to 11.4) for
esophageal adenocarcinoma and 2.0 (95 percent confidence
interval, 1.4 to 2.9) for adenocarcinoma of the
cardia. The more frequent, more severe, and longerlasting
the symptoms of reflux, the greater the risk.
Among persons with long-standing and severe symptoms
of reflux, the odds ratios were 43.5 (95 percent
confidence interval, 18.3 to 103.5) for esophageal adenocarcinoma
and 4.4 (95 percent confidence interval,
1.7 to 11.0) for adenocarcinoma of the cardia. The risk
of esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma was not associated
with reflux (odds ratio, 1.1; 95 percent confidence
interval, 0.7 to 1.9).
Conclusions
There is a strong and probably causal
relation between gastroesophageal reflux and esophageal
adenocarcinoma. The relation between reflux
and adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia is relatively
Background Previous studies suggest an association between obesity and oesophageal
(OA) and oesophagogastric junction adenocarcinomas
(OGJA). However, these studies have been limited in their ability
to assess whether the effects of obesity vary by gender or by the
presence of gastro-oesophageal reflux (GERD) symptoms.
Methods Individual participant data from 12 epidemiological studies
(8 North American, 3 European and 1 Australian) comprising
1997 OA cases, 1900 OGJA cases and 11 159 control subjects were
pooled. Logistic regression was used to estimate study-specific odds
ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association
between body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) and the risk of OA and
OGJA. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to combine these
ORs. We also investigated effect modification and synergistic interaction
of BMI with GERD symptoms and gender.
Results The association of OA and OGJA increased directly with increasing
BMI (P for trend <0.001). Compared with individuals with a BMI
<25, BMI 540 was associated with both OA (OR 4.76, 95% CI 2.96–
7.66) and OGJA (OR 3.07, 95% CI 1.89–4.99). These associations were
similar when stratified by gender and GERD symptoms. There was
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Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association
The Author 2012; all rights reserved. Advance Access publication 12 November 2012
International Journal of Epidemiology 2012;41:1706–1718
doi:10.1093/ije/dys176
1706
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evidence for synergistic interaction between BMI and GERD symptoms
in relation to OA/OGJA risk.
Conclusions These data indicate that BMI is directly associated with OA and
OGJA risk in both men and women and in those with and without
GERD symptoms. Disentangling the relationship between BMI and
GERD will be important for understanding preventive efforts for OA
and OGJA.
A comparison of initial
biopsy diagnoses with the occurrence of ESCC over the subsequent 3.5 years showed that
only dysplasia predicted development of ESCC, and that increasing grades of dysplasia
predicted increased risk: compared to normal, relative risks (95% confidence intervals) were
2.2 (0.7–7.5) for mild dysplasia, 15.8 (5.9–42.2) for moderate dysplasia, 72.6 (29.8–176.9)
NIH Public Access
Author Manuscript
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2014 April 01.
Published in final edited form as:
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2013 April ; 22(4): 540–552. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-12-1347.
NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript
for severe dysplasia, 22.9 (6.7–78.0) for dysplasia not otherwise specified, and 62.5 (24.1–
161.9) for carcinoma-in-situ. Of note, dysplasia not otherwise specified (NOS) and moderate
dysplasia risks were similar, as were risks for carcinoma-in-situ and severe dysplasia.
Further follow-up of this same endoscopic cohort for a total of 13.5 years corroborated the
previous risk estimates and provided more precise quantification. Over the full follow-up
period ESCC developed in 8% of participants with normal histology, but 24% with mild
dysplasia, 50% with moderate dysplasia, 74% with severe dysplasia, 58% with dysplasia
NOS, and 75% with carcinoma-in-situ (Fig 2) (5).
RHBDF2 = Missense mutation of romboid family member gene 2, está involucrado en la activación de la señalización de EGFR
a
Adjusted for any use of non-aspirin NSAID, age, sex, body mass index (kg/m2), gastroesophageal reflux, education, smoking intensity (pack-years), alcohol intake (drinks per day) and study center (when
applicable)
b
Number of studies included in a specific analysis varies based on the number of studies with contributing data (e.g. studies with no participants in that category or not enough cases or controls in that
category to provide a study-specific estimate would not be included in the random-effects meta-analysis model).
c
Trend tests used the category of intake as an ordinal variable (e.g. 0-3) and were calculated from meta-analytic pooling of study-specific odds ratios estimated from logistic regression models
Background & Aims—Regular use of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAID) has been reported to reduce risks for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and
esophagogastric junctional adenocarcinoma (EGJA). However, individual studies have been too
small to accurately assess the effects of medication type, frequency, or duration of use. We
performed a pooled analysis to investigate these associations.
Methods—We performed a pooled analysis of 6 population-based studies within the Barrett's
and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Consortium to evaluate the association between NSAID use and
the risk of EAC and EGJA, using uniform exposure definitions. We collected information from 6
studies (5 case-control and 1 cohort), with a total of 1226 EAC and 1140 EGJA cases, on aspirin
and/or NSAID use. Study-specific odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were
estimated using multivariate adjusted logistic regression models and then pooled using a random
effects meta-analysis model.
Results—Compared to non-users, individuals who have used NSAIDs had a statistically
significant, reduced risk of EAC (OR=0.68; 95% CI, 0.56–0.82); they also appeared to have a
reduced risk of EGJA (OR=0.84; 95% CI, 0.68–1.03). Similar reductions in risk were observed
among individuals who took aspirin or non-aspirin NSAIDs. The highest levels of frequency
(≥daily) and duration (≥10 years) of NSAID use were associated with an approximately 40%
reduction in risk for EAC: OR=0.56 (95% CI, 0.43–0.73; P-trend, <.001) and OR=0.63 (95% CI,
0.45–0.90; P-trend, 0.04), respectively.
Conclusions—Although reverse causation could, in part, explain the inverse association
observed between NSAID use and EAC risk, pooled analysis indicates a role for NSAIDs in
prevention of adenocarcinomas of the esophagus and esophagogastric junction.
The mammalian cell cycle is regulated exquisitely by cyclins,
cyclin-dependent kinases ( CDK), and cyclin-dependent kinase
inhibitors ( CDKi such as p 1 5 , p 1 6, p2 1 , and p27) . During Gl
phase, the cyclin Dl oncogene complexes with either CDK4 or
CDK6 to phosphorylate the retinoblastoma (pRb) tumor suppressor
protein and, in so doing, relieves the negative regulatory
effect of pRb, allowing the E2F family of transcription
factors to propel the cell cycle toward the G1/S phase transition.
16 Toward the late G1 phase, cyclin E complexes with
CDKs to phosphorylate p 1 07, which is related to pRb, and
liberate more E2F members to navigate the cell cycle into
S phase. As with EGFR, cyclin Dl overexpression is found in
premalignant lesions, such as esophageal squamous dysplasia
or Barrett's esophagus, and the maj ority of early-stage ESCC
or EAD. 17·1 8 Additionally, cyclin D l overexpression correlates
with poor outcomes and survival as well as poor response to
chemotherapy. 1 9·2o
Although cyclin D l overexpression accounts for cyclin D l
dysregulation, other mechanisms include mutations i n cyclin
Dl and mutations in Fbx4, which is the E3 ligase for cyclin
D l , thereby preventing degradation of cyclin Dl in the cytoplasm
and reimportation into the nucleus, where it exerts its
oncogenic effects.
In a similar vein, p l 6INK4a is an early genetic alteration,
via promoter hypermethylation, point mutation, or allelic
deletion, in Barrett's esophagus and EAD, but interestingly, a
late event in ESCC. Loss of heterozygosity of 9p2 1 , the locus
for both p 1 6 and p 1 5 , has been demonstrated with high frequency
in both dysplastic Barrett's epithelium and Barrett's
adenocarcinoma ( 9 0 % and more than 8 0 % of cases,
respectively) . 22•23 Promoter hypermethylation, which prevents
tumor suppressor function by blocking transcription, has been
documented and correlates with the degree of dysplasia in
Barrett's esophagus. It is present in up to 75 % of specimens
with high-grade dysplasia and is found in almost 5 0 % of
patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.24 Point mutations
of p 1 6 in ESCC have been found and promoter hypermethylation
has been noted in up to 5 0 % of these tumors.25·26
Rb gene mutation is not found in either type of esophageal
neoplasm, but allelic loss of 1 3 q where the locus of the Rb
gene resides is found in up to 5 0 % of patients with Barrett's
adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma .18·27 This can
correlate with diminished or loss of pRb protein in Barrett's
esophagus with dysplasia, EAD, and ESCC.
p53 is one of the most commonly mutated genes in human
cancer.22-24 p53 (molecular weight approximately 53 kDa) is a
tumor suppressor that interrupts the G1 phase to evaluate and
permit repair of damaged DNA, which may arise from environmental
exposure (e.g., irradiation, ultraviolet light) or cellular
stress.30 In the face of irreparable damage, p53 induces apoptosis.
The p53 transcription factor binds DNA to activate or suppress
a large repertoire of target genes.31 p53 mutations induce
loss of cell-cycle checkpoints and promote genomic instability.
The maj ority of p53 mutations occur in the DNA-binding
region, and more than 8 0 % of them are missense mutations
resulting in loss of wild type p53 function.32 Wild type p53 has
a short half-life and is difficult to detect by immunohistochemistry;
mutation in p53 results in stabilization of the protein and
allows for easier detection by immunohistochemistry.
Detection of mutated p53 protein by immunohistochemistry
has been demonstrated with increasing frequency during
histologic progression from Barrett's esophagus ( 5 % ) through
dysplasia ( 6 5 % to 75 % ) to frank adenocarcinoma ( up to
9 0 % ) .33-36 Thus, p53 mutation or loss of heterozygosity
appears early in Barrett's esophagus and EAD. Both mutant
p5 3 protein detected by immunohistochemistry and specific
p53 gene mutations detected by genomic sequencing have
been identified in 4 0 % to 75 % of patients with ESCCY-4°
The presence of a p53 point mutation correlates with response
to induction chemoradiotherapy and predicted survival after
esophagectomy in patients with either ESCC or EAD.41
Maintenance of telomere length allows DNA replication to be
sustained indefinitely. Aberrant expression of telomerase has
been observed in most esophageal cancers examined to date.42
Morales et al.43 observed increased telomerase expression in
1 0 0 % of adenocarcinoma and Barrett's esophagus cases with
high-grade dysplasia. Telomerase activation is important, but
alternative mechanisms to maintain the length of telomeres
may operate in these cancers as well.44
5 of which (TP53,
CDKN2A, SMAD4, ARID1A, and PIK3CA) are relevant
to the pathogenesis of adenocarcinoma.34 Table S1
in the Supplementary Appendix, available with the
full text of this article at NEJM.org, lists genes and
molecular pathways that have been found to have
alterations reported as prevalent among patients
with esophageal adenocarcinoma. Lineage-specific
factors, especially transcription factors, appear to
be important in the development of esophageal
cancers.34 Likewise, whole-genome and wholeexome
sequencing in Chinese patients with esophageal
squamous-cell carcinoma revealed eight mutated
genes — six known tumor-associated genes
(TP53, RB1, CDKN2A, PIK3CA, NOTCH1, and NFE2L2)
and two novel genes (ADAM29 and FAM135B).35
Small cell carcinomas account for approximately 1 % of
esophageal malignancies and arise from argyrophilic cells in
the basal layer of the squamous epithelium. These neoplasms
are usually located in the middle or lower third of the esophagus
and may be associated with ectopic production of a variety
of hormones, including parathormone, secretin, granulocyte
colony-stimulation factor, and gastrin-releasing peptide;
individuals with these cancers often present with systemic
disease.89-91 Recent series have reported patients with locally
advanced disease treated with systemic chemotherapy in combination
with either radiation therapy, surgery, or both, with
some patients achieving long-term disease-free survival.92
Leiomyosarcoma is the most common mesenchymal tumor
that affects the esophagus, still accounting for less than 1 % of
esophageal malignancies . These neoplasms are lower-third
tumors presenting as bulky masses with hemorrhage and
necrosis. Malignant lymphoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma
rarely involve the esophagus and is usually secondary to extension
from other sites. Patients with acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome may exhibit Kaposi's sarcoma involving the esophagus.
Malignant melanoma involving the esophagus is exceedingly
rare and presents as a bulky polypoid intraesophageal
tumor of varying color depending on melanin production.
Figure 4. Representative histopathologic images of ESCC.
ESCC is graded based on mitotic activity, nuclear atypia, and
degree of squamous differentiation. (Left panel) Welldifferentiated
SCC. (Middle panel) Moderately differentiated
SCC. (Right panel) Poorly differentiated SCC.
A focused history taking should elicit information on predisposing
factors for esophageal cancer, including tobacco use,
alcohol use, symptomatic reflux, diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus,
and history of head and neck or thoracic malignancy.
Prior surgery on the stomach or colon may influence the choice
of reconstructive conduit to restore alimentary continuity at
the time of esophagectomy. Findings on history and physical
examination that would prompt further diagnostic testing
include hoarseness, cervical or supraclavicular lymphadenopathy,
pleural effusion, or new onset of bone pain.
Patients with symptoms of dysphagia should undergo upper
endoscopy and biopsy to establish a tissue diagnosis. Biopsies
or cytologic brushings have a diagnostic accuracy approaching
1 0 0 % , 107,108 Targeted biopsy can be enhanced by the use
of chromoendoscopy techniques using vital dyes, including
indigo carmine, Lugol's iodine solution, methylene blue, and
toluidine blue. 109·1 10 Autofluorescence imaging and narrow
band imaging are emerging endoscopic techniques that allow
for detailed inspection of mucosa
Chest radiography and liquid oral contrast examination of
the esophagus and stomach have been replaced by computed
tomography ( CT) and flexible endoscopy. Esophagogastroscopy
allows precise evaluation of the extent of esophageal and gastric
involvement and can precisely measure the distance of the
tumor from the incisors to appropriately categorize the tumor's
location. Upper endoscopy also allows identification of " skip "
lesions or second primaries as well as indicates the presence
and extent of Barrett's esophagus. Bronchoscopy should be
reserved for those patients with tumors of the middle and
upper esophagus to rule out invasion of the membranous trachea
and possible tracheoesophageal fistula.
The
accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in determining
both T and N stage is a function of its ability to clearly delineate
the multiple layers of the esophageal wall124·125 and its use of
multiple criteria, including shape, border pattern, echogenicity,
and size, to determine lymph node involvement. 126,127 EUS is
superior to CT in both T and N staging of esophageal
cancer. 128,129 The overall accuracy for T staging is approximately
8 5 % and for N staging it is approximately 75 % . 130 The accuracy
of determining lymph node involvement has been increased
to 8 5 % to 1 0 0 % with the use of linear-array EUS with a channel
that allows passage of a needle to perform tissue aspiration
for cytology. l23,131·132 EUS is highly operator dependent
A recent single institution review of 201 CT scans
in 99 patients undergoing staging for esophageal cancer indicated
that imaging of the pelvis did not contribute added staging
information, and it may not need to be routinely performed.
1 15 CT scans are highly accurate ( approaching 1 00 % ) in
detecting liver or lung metastases and suggesting peritoneal carcinomatosis
(e.g., ascites, omental infiltration, peritoneal tumor
studding ) . 1 16-1 1 8 Accuracy for detecting aortic involvement or
tracheobronchial invasion exceeds 9 0 % . 1 17·119·12° CT is inaccurate
in determining T stage and N stage
FDG-PET is superior to
CT, with a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy all in the range
of 8 0 % to 9 0 % . 142·143 PET in combination with CT (PET-CT
fusion or hybrid FDG-PET/CT) further improves specificity
and accuracy of noninvasive staging. 144 This leads to detection
of unsuspected metastatic disease ( up-staging ) in 1 5 % of
patients, which leads to alteration of the intended treatment
plan in at least 2 0 % of patients . FD G-PET may also have
value in evaluating response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Weber et al.l45 demonstrated that decreased FDG uptake
significantly correlated with pathologically confirmed response
in p atients treated with induction chemotherapy before
esophagectomy for esophageal adenocarcinoma.