Over the years, the development of minimally invasive procedures, endoscopy and chromoscopy, serum and histologic biomarkers, and epidemiology have allowed early detection, management, and treatment of premalignant lesions, conditions associated with high risk for cancer, and early neoplasms. The earliest management, investigation, and follow-up of premalignant lesions and superficial neoplasms in the esophagus and stomach are essential, as they can further improve the survival rates and reduce local and systemic recurrence by allowing prompt curative interventions.
Understanding cancer initiation and progressionSeveral conditions promote a higher risk for the development of esophagogastric cancer. It encompasses Barrett's esophagus, achalasia, atrophic gastritis, esophagitis of varying types (e.g., infectious, drug-induced, eosinophilic, etc.), esophageal stenosis due to ingestion of corrosive agents, polyposis, among others. Each condition promotes a different risk ratio for cancer development (1, 2).Chronic inflammation is a factor that is common for several of these conditions (3). Chronic inflammation may contribute to oncogenesis through several different pathways, including DNA damage, angiogenesis, and deregulation of cellular growth, proliferation, and death (4). See Figure 1.