Cellular and Molecular Biology of Esophageal Cancer

Abstract

The study of cellular and molecular biology in esophageal carcinomas could serve the following purposes: (1) to establish the presence or absence of an infectious co-factor such as human papilloma virus; (2) to understand the genetic mechanisms of disease such as genetic mutations, changes in microRNAs changes as well as the roles of cancer stem cells; (3) to provide prognostic information; and (4) to predict response to medical therapies and new modalities of treatment. In recent years, major genomic information obtained from the whole genomic sequencing of prospectively collected frozen samples of esophageal carcinomas open the field for in-depth understanding of the complex molecular pathway of the cancer. The Anti-Her 2 therapy was approved internationally as targeted therapy for esophageal adenocarcinoma at the gastroesophageal junction. Assessment of Her 2 expression is the most important molecular test to be performed properly in clinical settings. The study of cellular and molecular biology in esophageal carcinomas depends on the properly collected formalin fixed as well as snap frozen tissues and blood from the patients. Tissue microarray and whole-slide scanning technologies allow tissue research in esophageal carcinomas to be progressed in a more efficient way. Cancer cell lines and animal models could use to study the functional aspects of the various cellular and molecular changes in esophageal carcinomas.

Multiplex SERS-Lectin-Immunoassay for Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Screening

“…Esophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) is often diagnosed at a late stage, contributing to the low 5-year survival rate of 22%. , OAC is initiated by chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), through the metaplastic-precancerous condition Barrett’s esophagus (BO) . However, the majority of OAC patients have no prior diagnosis of asymptomatic BO.…”