• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.4123-4126
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• 2015

Background: Carcinoma of the esophagus is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The most common subtype is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). In the past three decades, the incidence of SCC has been reported to be decreasing whereas esophageal adenocarcinoma (AC) is increasing. This study assessed the trend of esophageal cancer in Brunei Darussalam over a three decades period. Materials and Methods: The National Cancer registry was searched for esophageal cancers from 1986 to 2012. Data on age, gender, racial groups (Malays, Chinese, Indigenous and foreign nationals) and histology type were collected. The rate (ASR) and Age Specific Incidence rate (ASIR) were calculated. Results: The predominant tumor type was SCC which accounted for 89% of all esophageal cancer. The gender ratio was 2.25: 1 (male: female) and the mean age at diagnosis was $66.9{\pm}12.9$ years, significantly younger for esophageal AC ($57.2{\pm}16.0$) compared to SCC ($68.1{\pm}12.0$, p<0.05), and among the foreign nationals (p<0.05 for trend). The proportions of SCC among all esophageal cancers in the various racial groups were: Malays (87.8%), Chinese (100%), Indigenous (100%) and foreign nationals (20%). None of the Chinese and Indigenous groups were diagnosed with esophageal AC. The overall ASR for esophageal cancer was 2.1/100,000; 2.0/100,000 for SCC with a declining trend and 0.17/100,000 for esophageal AC, without any trend observed. Among the two major racial groups; the Chinese has higher ASR (3.42/100,000) compared to the Malays (ASR 0.95/100,000). Conclusions: SCC is the predominant tumor type of esophageal cancer in Brunei Darussalam and more common among the Chinese. There was a declining trend in the incidence of SCC but not for esophageal AC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3677-3683
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• 2015

Abnormally expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) and genes have been found to play key roles in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but little is known about the underlying mechanisms. The aim of this paper was to assess inter-relationships and the regulatory mechanisms of ESCC through a network-based approach. We built three regulatory networks: an abnormally expressed network, a related network and a global network. Unlike previous examples, containing information only on genes or miRNAs, the prime focus was on relationships. It is worth noting that abnormally expressed network emerged as a fault map of ESCC. Theoretically, ESCC might be treated and prevented by correcting the included errors. In addition, the predicted transcription factors (TFs) obtained by the P-match method also warrant further study. Our results may further guide gene therapy researchers in the study of ESCC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.763-767
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• 2014

Aim: To study the contribution of genetic variation in RAD51 to risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in RAD51 (rs1801320, rs4144242 and rs4417527) were genotyped in 316 ESCC patients and 316 healthy controls in Anyang area of China using PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism). Demographic variables between cases and controls were statistically compared by T test and Chi-square test. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was evaluated by the Chi-square test. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to measure any association with ESCC. Haplotype frequencies were estimated by Phase 2.1. Result: The genotype frequencies of rs1801320, rs4144242 and rs4417527 in patients with ESCC demonstrated no significant differences from those in control group (P>0.05). When the haplotypes of these three SNPs were constructed and their relationships with ESCC risk investigated, however, CGG was observed to increase the risk (P=0.020, OR=2.289). Conclusions: There was no association between the three SNPs of RAD51 and ESCC susceptibility in our Chinese population. However, the CGG haplotype might be a risk factor.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.103-106
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• 2000

Advanced esophageal carcinoma which invades into adjacent organs are classified as T4 esophageal cancer,. Its complete resection without residual tumor would be difficult. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy and combined modality therapy are being tried to improve survival in patients with T4 esophageal carcinoma. In a 74-year-old man a 6cm squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus with invasion of the thoracic aorta was detected (T4). After neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy the patient was operated on using bio-pump with aorto-femoral cannulation. The invased segment of descending aorta was resected and reconstructed with a graft. The tumor was resected and EG anastomosis was done. The postoperative period was uneventful the patient was discharged after good condition and has been well to now.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.61-65
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• 2023

Globally, esophageal cancer is the seventh most common cancer, and the male-to-female ratio in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is significantly imbalanced at 4:1 to 8:1. Obesity, reflux, and smoking are known risk factors for this sex difference; however, fully explaining this remains challenging. Studies have investigated the link between exogenous sex hormones and esophageal cancer occurrence. A meta-analysis revealed a lower risk of EAC in female who had undergone hormone replacement therapy. Androgen-deprivation therapy in patients with prostate cancer was associated with a decreased risk of EAC. Tissue-based studies have reported varied results regarding the relationship between estrogen receptor expression and survival in female patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Circulating hormone studies have suggested that higher testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels decreased EAC risk in men, and free testosterone was inversely correlated in female with ESCC. However, a high androgen-estrogen ratio in male patients with EAC was linked to increased odds of EAC. Sex hormones influence carcinogenesis, affecting cell proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, inflammation, and cell death. The studies were limited by the small sample size and varying hormone measurement methods; thus, future studies with definitive conclusions on the association between esophageal cancer and sex hormones are warranted.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.5303-5306
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• 2012

Aim: The present case-control study was conducted to explore the association of MTHFR gene polymorphism and relations of P16, MGMT and HMLH1 to MTHFR and folate intake. Methods: A total of 257 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma confirmed by histopathological examination were collected. Genotyping of P16, MGMT and HMLH1 was accomplished by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after sodium bisulfate modification of DNA and the MTHFR C677T genetic polymorphism was detected by PCR-restriction fragment-length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: The proportions of DNA hypermethylation in P16, MGMT and hMLH1 in cancer tissues were significantly higher than in paracancerous normal tissue. The proportion of hypermethylation in at least one gene was 88.5% in cancer tissue, and was also significantly higher than that in paracancerous normal tissue. Our finding showed individuals with homozygotes (TT) of MTHFR C677T had significant risk of DNA hypermethylation of MGMT in cancer tissues, with an OR (95% CI) of 3.15 (1.12-6.87). Similarly, patients with high intake of folate also showed a slight high risk of DNA methylation of MGMT, with OR (95% CI) of 2.03 (1.05-4.57). Conclusion: Our study found the P16, MGMT and hMLH1 demonstrate a high proportion of hypermethylation in esophageal squamous cell cancer cancer tissues, which might be used as biomarkers for cancer detection.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5169-5173
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• 2015

To determine the efficacy of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel plus cisplatin (Taxol + DDP, TP therapy) for stage IIA esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and to investigate the expression of RUNX3 in lymph node metastasis-negative esophageal cancer and its relationship with medical prognosis, a retrospective summary of clinical treatment of 143 cases of stage IIA esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients was made. The patients were divided into two groups, a surgery alone control group (52 patients) and a chemotherapy group that received postoperative TP therapy (91 patients). The disease-free and 5 year survival rates were compared between the groups and a multivariate analysis of prognostic factors was performed. The same analysis was performed for cases classified as RUNX3 positive and negative, with post-operative specimens assessed by immunohistochemistry. Although the disease-free and 5 year survival rates in control and chemotherapy groups did not significantly differ and there was no significance in RUNX3 negative cases, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in the chemotherapy group was shown to improve disease-free and 5 year survival rate compared to the control group in RUNX3 positive cases. On Cox regression multivariate analysis, postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (P<0.01) was an independent prognostic factor for RUNX3 positive cases, suggesting that postoperative TP may be effective as adjuvant chemotherapy for stage IIA esophageal cancer patients with RUNX3 positive lesions.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2919-2923
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• 2013

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most common malignant tumors, and the incidence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is highest in China. Early diagnosis and effective monitoring are keys to comprehensive treatment and discovering tumor metastases and recurrence in time. The aim of this study was to confirm serum peptidome pattern utility for diagnosis of ESCC, and assessment of operation success, postoperative chemotherapy results, tumor metastasis and recurrence. Serum samples were collected from 61 patients treated with surgery and chemotherapy and 20 healthy individuals. Spectral data generated with weak cationic-exchanger magnetic beads (WCX-MB) and MALDI-TOF MS by a support vector machine (SVM), were used to construct diagnostic models and system training as potential biomarkers. A pattern consisting of 11 protein peaks, separated ESCC (m/z 650.75), operated (m/z 676.61, 786.1, 786.58), postoperative chemotherapy (m/z 622.77, 650.66, 676.46) and tumor metastasis and recurrence (m/z 622.63, 650.56, 690.77, 676.12) from the healthy individuals with a sensitivity of 100.0% and a specificity of 100.0%. These results suggested that MALDITOF MS combined with MB separation yields significantly higher sensitivity and specificity for the detection of serum protein in patients with EC patients treated with surgery and chemotherapy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.251-254
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• 1994

Esophageal leiomyosarcoma is a rare lesion. [0.5 % of all esophageal malignancy] The patient was 74 year old female and complained postprandial vomiting of 4 years, duration & hematemasis of 2 months` duration. On gastrofiberscopy, huge exophytic mass nearly occluding esophageal lumen located 30∼38 cm from upper incisor was found. Endoscopic biopsy was squamous cell carcinoma. Transthoracic esophagectomy and esophagogastrotomy was carried out. Result of biopsy was esophageal leiomyosarcoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2851-2857
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• 2013

Objective: REPS2 plays important roles in inhibiting cell proliferation, migration and in inducing apoptosis of cancer cells, now being identified as a useful biomarker for favorable prognosis in prostate and breast cancers. The purpose of this study was to assess REPS2 expression and to explore its role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: Protein expression of REPS2 in ESCCs and adjacent non-cancerous tissues from 120 patients was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and correlated with clinicopathological parameters and patient outcome. Additionally, thirty paired ESCC tissues and four ESCC cell lines and one normal human esophageal epithelial cell line were evaluated for REPS2 mRNA and protein expression levels by quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results: REPS2 mRNA and protein expression levels were down-regulated in ESCC tissues and cell lines. Low protein levels were significantly associated with primary tumour, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and recurrence (all, P < 0.05). Survival analysis demonstrated that decreased REPS2 expression was significantly associated with shorter overall survival and disease-free survival (both, P < 0.001), especially in early stage ESCC patients. When REPS2 expression and lymph node metastasis status were combined, patients with low REPS2 expression/lymph node (+) had both poorer overall and disease-free survival than others (both, P < 0.001). Cox multivariate regression analysis further revealed REPS2 to be an independent prognostic factor for ESCC patients. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that downregulation of REPS2 may contribute to malignant progression of ESCC and represent a novel prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target for ESCC patients.