Latest insights into the global epidemiological features, screening, early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

As a highly invasive carcinoma, esophageal cancer (EC) was the eighth most prevalent malignancy and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide in 2020. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the major histological subtype of EC, and its incidence and mortality rates are decreasing globally. Due to the lack of specific early symptoms, ESCC patients are usually diagnosed with advanced-stage disease with a poor prognosis, and the incidence and mortality rates are still high in many countries, especially in China. Therefore, enormous challenges still exist in the management of ESCC, and novel strategies are urgently needed to further decrease the incidence and mortality rates of ESCC. Although the key molecular mechanisms underlying ESCC pathogenesis have not been fully elucidated, certain promising biomarkers are being investigated to facilitate clinical decision-making. With the advent and advancement of high-throughput technologies, such as genomics, proteomics and metabolomics, valuable biomarkers with high sensitivity, specificity and stability could be identified for ESCC. Herein, we aimed to determine the epidemiological features of ESCC in different regions of the world, especially in China, and focused on novel molecular biomarkers associated with ESCC screening, early diagnosis and prognosis prediction.

Deciphering the lipid-cancer nexus: comprehensive Mendelian randomization analysis of the associations between lipid profiles and digestive system cancer susceptibility.

BACKGROUND: Digestive system cancers represent a significant global health challenge and are attributed to a combination of demographic and lifestyle changes. Lipidomics has emerged as a pivotal area in cancer research, suggesting that alterations in lipid metabolism are closely linked to cancer development. However, the causal relationship between specific lipid profiles and digestive system cancer risk remains unclear. METHODS: Using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach, we elucidated the causal relationships between lipidomic profiles and the risk of five types of digestive system cancer: stomach, liver, esophageal, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect impact of developing lipid profiles on the risk of digestive system cancers utilizing data from public databases such as the GWAS Catalog and the UK Biobank. The inverse‒variance weighted (IVW) method and other strict MR methods were used to evaluate the potential causal links. In addition, we performed sensitivity analyses and reverse MR analyses to ensure the robustness of the results. RESULTS: Significant causal relationships were identified between certain lipidomic traits and the risk of developing digestive system cancers. Elevated sphingomyelin (d40:1) levels were associated with a reduced risk of developing gastric cancer (odds ratio (OR) = 0.68, P < 0.001), while elevated levels of phosphatidylcholine (16:1_20:4) increased the risk of developing esophageal cancer (OR = 1.31, P = 0.02). Conversely, phosphatidylcholine (18:2_0:0) had a protective effect against colorectal cancer (OR = 0.86, P = 0.036). The bidirectional analysis did not suggest reverse causality between cancer risk and lipid levels. Strict MR methods demonstrated the robustness of the above causal relationships. CONCLUSION: Our findings underscore the significant causal relationships between specific lipidomic traits and the risk of developing various digestive system cancers, highlighting the potential of lipid profiles in informing cancer prevention and treatment strategies. These results reinforce the value of MR in unraveling complex lipid-cancer interactions, offering new avenues for research and clinical application.

The TEOGIC study project: a comprehensive characterization of early onset gastrointestinal cancer in the Northern area of Spain.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal cancers represent one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide. Strikingly, the incidence of Early Onset Gastrointestinal Cancer (EOGIC) has been rising during the last decades and changes in lifestyle and environmental exposure seem to play a role. EOGIC has been defined as a different entity compared to on-average gastrointestinal cancer, with distinct clinical and molecular characteristics. Inherent to the particularities of younger age, there is an unmet need for a tailored approach for the management of these patients. The TEOGIC proposes a comprehensive study to characterize EOGIC patients in the northern of Spain. METHODS: Patients with histologically confirmed new diagnosis of colorectal, gastroesophageal and pancreatic adenocarcinoma will be considered for two cohorts: EOGIC (≤ 50 years old) and non-EOGIC (60-75 years old), with a ratio of 1:2. Two hundred and forty patients will be recruited in 4 Public Hospitals from northern Spain. After receiving unified informed consent, demographic and clinical data of the patients will be collected in a REDCap database. Lifestyle related data will be obtained in questionnaires assessing diet, physical activity and the general quality of life of the patients before diagnosis. Biological samples prior to any onco-specific treatment will be obtained for the analyses of circulating inflammatory proteins, gut microbiota, and the proteome of the tumor microenvironment. Histologic characteristics and routine biomarkers will be also collected. Thereafter, data will be integrated and analyzed to assess tumor specific, pan-tumor and sex-associated differential characteristics of EOGIC. DISCUSSION: The underlying risk factors and differential characteristics of EOGIC remain poorly studied, particularly in our geographical area. Although limited by the exploratory nature and the small sample size estimated to be recruited, TEOGIC represents the first attempt to comprehensively characterize these young patients, and thus attend to their special needs. Findings derived from this study could contribute to raise awareness and preventive behaviors in the population. In parallel, molecular studies could lead to the identification of potential novel non-invasive biomarkers and therapeutic targets that would help in the development of the tailored clinical management of these patients, focusing on screening programs for early diagnosis and precision medicine.

The Impact of Racial Disparities and the Social Determinants of Health on Esophageal and Gastric Cancer Outcomes.

Reducing long-standing inequities in gastric and esophageal cancers is a priority of patients, providers, and policy makers. Many social determinants of health influence risk factors for disease development, incidence, treatment, and outcomes of gastric and esophageal cancers.

Spatiotemporal Distribution, Time to Treatment Outcome Clustering and Determinants of Esophageal Cancer in Ethiopia, a Scoping Study.

INTRODUCTION: Esophageal cancer was the eighth and sixth leading cause of morbidity of all cancers in the world, and the 15th and 12th in Ethiopia, respectively. There is a lack of comprehensive data regarding Ethiopia's esophageal cancer hotspot, treatment outcome clustering, and other factors. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review was designed to understand the extent and type of existing evidence regarding spatiotemporal distribution, time to treatment outcome clustering, and determinants of esophageal cancer in Ethiopia up to March 28, 2023. METHODS: Three-step search strategies were employed for the scoping review from March 15 to 28, 2023. Targeted databases included PubMed/Medline, PubMed Central (PMC), Google Scholar, Hinari, and Cochrane for published studies and different websites for unpublished studies for evidence synthesis. Data were extracted using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) manual format. RESULTS: Our final analysis comprised 17 (16 quantitative and 1 qualitative) studies. Three studies attempted to depict the country's temporal distribution, whereas 12 studies showed the spatial distribution of esophageal cancer by proportion. The regional state of Oromia recorded a high percentage of cases. Numerous risk factors linked to the tumor have been identified in 8 investigations. Similarly, 5 studies went into detail regarding the likelihood of survival and the factors that contribute to malignancy, while 2 studies covered the results of disease-related treatments. CONCLUSIONS: The substantial body of data that underpins this finding supports the fact that esophageal cancer has several risk factors and that its prevalence varies greatly across the country and among regions. Surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy helped the patient live longer. However, no research has investigated which treatment is best for boosting patient survival and survival clustering. Therefore, research with robust models for regional distribution, clustering of time to treatment outcomes, and drivers of esophageal cancer will be needed.

The review was based on 17 studies searched from five electronic databases, and six additional sources. Esophageal cancer incidence varies across the nation (from region to region). The median survival time of esophageal cancer cases were four months, and six months. No study investigated the better treatment that improved the survival of patients with esophageal cancer. A contradicting report were found about the link b/n khat chewing and esophageal cancer. The temporal distribution of the tumor was controversial.

Esophageal cancer in Hispanics: a demographic analysis of the National Cancer Database.

BACKGROUND: Hispanics are the fastest-growing minority and the second largest ethnic group in the United States, accounting for 18% of the national population. The American Cancer Society estimated 18,440 new cases of esophageal cancer (EC) in the United States in 2020. Hispanics are reported to be at high risk of EC. We sought to interrogate the demographic patterns of EC in Hispanics. Secondary objective was to examine evidence of socioeconomic disparities and differential therapy. METHODS: We identified Hispanic vs non-Hispanic patients with EC in the National Cancer Database between 2005 and 2015. Groups were statistically equated through propensity score-matched analysis. RESULTS: A total of 3205 Hispanics (3.8%) were identified among 85,004 patients with EC. We identified significant disparities between Hispanic and non-Hispanic groups. Disparities among Hispanics included higher prevalence of squamous EC, higher likelihood of stage IV cancer diagnosis, younger age, uninsured status, and income< $38,000. Hispanics were less likely to have surgical intervention or any type of treatment when compared to non-Hispanics. Multivariate analysis showed that age, ethnicity, treatment, histology, grade, stage, and Charlson-Deyo scores were independent predictors of survival. Treated Hispanics survived longer than non-Hispanics. CONCLUSION: Despite the lower prevalence of EC, there is a disproportionately higher prevalence of metastatic and untreated cases among Hispanics. This disparity may be explained by Hispanics' limited access to medical care, exacerbated by their socioeconomic and insurance status. Further study is warranted to examine these health disparities among Hispanics.

Non-invasive early detection on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and precancerous lesions by microbial biomarkers combining epidemiological factors in China.

BACKGROUND: Microbiota may be associated with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) development. However, it is not known the predictive value of microbial biomarkers combining epidemiological factors for the early detection of ESCC and precancerous lesions. METHODS: A total of 449 specimens (esophageal swabs and saliva) were collected from 349 participants with different esophageal statuses in China to explore and validate ESCC-associated microbial biomarkers from genes level to species level by 16S rRNA sequencing, metagenomic sequencing and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: A bacterial biomarker panel including Actinomyces graevenitzii (A.g_1, A.g_2, A.g_3, A.g_4), Fusobacteria nucleatum (F.n_1, F.n_2, F.n_3), Haemophilus haemolyticus (H.h_1), Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g_1, P.g_2, P.g_3) and Streptococcus australis (S.a_1) was explored by metagenomic sequencing to early detect the participants in Need group (low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia and ESCC) vs participants without these lesions as the Noneed group. Significant quantitative differences existed for each microbial target in which the detection efficiency rate was higher in saliva than esophageal swab. In saliva, the area under the curve (AUC) based on the microbial biomarkers (A.g_4 ∩ P.g_3 ∩ H.h_1 ∩ S.a_1 ∩ F.n_2) was 0.722 (95% CI 0.621-0.823) in the exploration cohort. Combining epidemiological factors (age, smoking, drinking, intake of high-temperature food and toothache), the AUC improved to 0.869 (95% CI 0.802-0.937) in the exploration cohort, which was validated with AUC of 0.757 (95% CI 0.663-0.852) in the validation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: It is feasible to combine microbial biomarkers in saliva and epidemiological factors to early detect ESCC and precancerous lesions in China.

Prediction of esophageal cancer risk based on genetic variants and environmental risk factors in Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Results regarding whether it is essential to incorporate genetic variants into risk prediction models for esophageal cancer (EC) are inconsistent due to the different genetic backgrounds of the populations studied. We aimed to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with EC among the Chinese population and to evaluate the performance of genetic and non-genetic factors in a risk model for developing EC. METHODS: A meta-analysis was performed to systematically identify potential SNPs, which were further verified by a case-control study. Three risk models were developed: a genetic model with weighted genetic risk score (wGRS) based on promising SNPs, a non-genetic model with environmental risk factors, and a combined model including both genetic and non-genetic factors. The discrimination ability of the models was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and the net reclassification index (NRI). The Akaike information criterion (AIC) and Bayesian information criterion (BIC) were used to assess the goodness-of-fit of the models. RESULTS: Five promising SNPs were ultimately utilized to calculate the wGRS. Individuals in the highest quartile of the wGRS had a 4.93-fold (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.59 to 9.38) increased risk of EC compared with those in the lowest quartile. The genetic or non-genetic model identified EC patients with AUCs ranging from 0.618 to 0.650. The combined model had an AUC of 0.707 (95% CI: 0.669 to 0.743) and was the best-fitting model (AIC = 750.55, BIC = 759.34). The NRI improved when the wGRS was added to the risk model with non-genetic factors only (NRI = 0.082, P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: Among the three risk models for EC, the combined model showed optimal predictive performance and can help to identify individuals at risk of EC for tailored preventive measures.

Disease burden of Barrett's esophagus across the Paris metropolitan area.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of Barrett's esophagus (BE) in France is unknown. However, the management of dysplastic BE in expert centers is recommended and reduces the risk of developing invasive adenocarcinoma. Our aim was to determine the burden of BE patients in the Paris Region. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study using the data from electronic medical records from the data warehouse of the 39 Greater Paris public hospitals (Entrepôt de données de santé de l' Assistance Publique- Hôpitaux de Paris) for the year 2018, and used natural language processing to search for occurrences of Barrett's esophagus in endoscopy and pathology reports. RESULTS: we observed a 2.2 % prevalence of Barrett's esophagus. Patients with Barrett's esophagus were older, more frequently males, with a hiatal hernia, proton pump inhibitor users, and less frequently infected by H. Pylori. Gastro-esophageal reflux symptoms were not more frequently encountered in Barrett's patients. Eleven percent of patients with Barrett's esophagus had dysplasia or adenocarcinoma. DISCUSSION: Over 200 000 patients with Barrett's esophagus are expected in the Paris Region, of which 11 % harbor dysplasia or adenocarcinoma. This data should be taken into account to tailor healthcare offer in France.

Chronic atrophic gastritis and risk of incident upper gastrointestinal cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous literature has explored the relationship between chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and isolated cancers within the upper gastrointestinal cancers; However, an integrative synthesis across the totality of upper gastrointestinal cancers was conspicuously absent. The research objective was to assess the relationship between CAG and the risk of incident upper gastrointestinal cancers, specifically including gastric cancer, oesophageal cancer, and oesophagogastric junction cancer. METHODS: Rigorous systematic searches were conducted across three major databases, namely PubMed, Embase and Web of Science, encompassing the timeline from database inception until August 10, 2023. We extracted the necessary odds ratio (OR) and their corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) for subsequent meta-analysis. Statistical analyses were conducted using Stata 17.0 software. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included a total of 23 articles encompassing 5858 patients diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal cancers. CAG resulted in a statistically significant 4.12-fold elevated risk of incident gastric cancer (OR = 4.12, 95% CI 3.20-5.30). Likewise, CAG was linked to a 2.08-fold increased risk of incident oesophageal cancer (OR = 2.08, 95%CI 1.60-2.72). Intriguingly, a specific correlation was found between CAG and the risk of incident oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OR = 2.29, 95%CI 1.77-2.95), while no significant association was detected for oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OR = 0.62, 95%CI 0.17-2.26). Moreover, CAG was correlated with a 2.77-fold heightened risk of oesophagogastric junction cancer (OR = 2.77, 95%CI 2.21-3.46). Notably, for the same type of upper gastrointestinal cancer, it was observed that diagnosing CAG through histological methods was linked to a 33-77% higher risk of developing cancer compared to diagnosing CAG through serological methods. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis indicated a two- to fourfold increased risk of gastric cancer, oesophageal cancer, and oesophagogastric junction cancer in patients with CAG. Importantly, for the same upper gastrointestinal cancer, the risk of incident cancer was higher when CAG was diagnosed histologically compared to serological diagnosis. Further rigorous study designs are required to explore the impact of CAG diagnosed through both diagnostic methods on the risk of upper gastrointestinal cancers.

Uncovering Risks Associated with Smoking Types and Intensities in Esophageal Cancer within High-Prevalence Regions in Africa: A Comprehensive Meta-analysis.

Tobacco is usually cited among the well-known risk factors of esophageal cancer; nevertheless, the extent of the contribution of the type of smoking and its intensity to the disease has not been comprehensively elucidated in Africa. We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and African Journals Online studies published before September 2023. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale, and the funnel plot was used for assessing potential publication bias. Meta-analyses were conducted to estimate summary effects using random-effects models. This study included 22,319 participants from 27 studies. The results strongly indicate a significant association between tobacco use and a higher risk of esophageal cancer. The risk of esophageal cancer is notably higher among pipe smokers [OR = 4.68; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.38-6.48], followed by hand-rolled cigarette smokers (OR = 3.79; 95% CI, 2.68-5.35), in comparison with those who smoked commercially manufactured cigarettes (OR = 2.46; 95% CI, 1.69-3.60). Our findings also showed that the risk of esophageal cancer is highest in people smoking >183 packs per year (OR = 5.47; 95% CI, 3.93-7.62), followed by those smoking 93 to 183 packs per year (OR = 3.90; 95% CI, 3.13-4.86), in comparison with those smoking ≤92 packs per year (OR = 2.90; 95% CI, 2.19-3.84). Our findings strongly show that among the different types of tobacco use in Africa, pipe and hand-roller smokers face a higher risk of esophageal cancer.

Conditional survival and annual hazard of death in older patients with esophageal cancer receiving definitive chemoradiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Definitive chemoradiotherapy is one of the primary treatment modalities for older patients with esophageal cancer (EC). However, the evolution of prognosis over time and the factors affected non-EC deaths remain inadequately studied. We examined the conditional survival and annual hazard of death in older patients with EC after chemoradiotherapy. METHODS: We collected data from patients aged 65 or older with EC registered in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database during 2000-2019. Conditional survival was defined as the probability of survival given a specific time survived. Annual hazard of death was defined the yearly event rate. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis identified the association of age at diagnosis with mortality. RESULTS: Among 3739 patients, the 3-year conditional overall survival increased annually by 7-10%. Non-EC causes accounted for 18.8% of deaths, predominantly due to cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. The hazard of death decreased from 40 to 10% in the first 6 years and then gradually increased to 20% in the tenth year. Non-EC causes surpassed EC causes in hazard starting 5 years post-treatment. RCS indicated a consistent increase in death hazard with advancing age, following a linear relationship. The overall cohort was divided into two groups: 65-74 and ≥ 75 years old, with the ≥ 75-year-old group showing poorer survival and earlier onset of non-EC deaths (HR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.15-1.62, P < 0.001). Patients with early-stage disease (I-II) had higher risks of death from non-EC causes (HR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.68-0.98, P = 0.035). Tumor histology had no significant impact on non-EC death risk (HR = 1.17, 95% CI: 0.98-1.39, P = 0.081). CONCLUSIONS: Survival probability increases with time for older patients with EC treated with chemoradiotherapy. Clinicians and patients should prioritize managing and preventing age-related comorbidities, especially in older cohorts and those with early-stage disease.

Deep learning assists detection of esophageal cancer and precursor lesions in a prospective, randomized controlled study.

Endoscopy is the primary modality for detecting asymptomatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and precancerous lesions. Improving detection rate remains challenging. We developed a system based on deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for detecting esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions [high-risk esophageal lesions (HrELs)] and validated its efficacy in improving HrEL detection rate in clinical practice (trial registration ChiCTR2100044126 at www.chictr.org.cn). Between April 2021 and March 2022, 3117 patients ≥50 years old were consecutively recruited from Taizhou Hospital, Zhejiang Province, and randomly assigned 1:1 to an experimental group (CNN-assisted endoscopy) or a control group (unassisted endoscopy) based on block randomization. The primary endpoint was the HrEL detection rate. In the intention-to-treat population, the HrEL detection rate [28 of 1556 (1.8%)] was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group [14 of 1561 (0.9%), P = 0.029], and the experimental group detection rate was twice that of the control group. Similar findings were observed between the experimental and control groups [28 of 1524 (1.9%) versus 13 of 1534 (0.9%), respectively; P = 0.021]. The system's sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for detecting HrELs were 89.7, 98.5, and 98.2%, respectively. No adverse events occurred. The proposed system thus improved HrEL detection rate during endoscopy and was safe. Deep learning assistance may enhance early diagnosis and treatment of esophageal cancer and may become a useful tool for esophageal cancer screening.

Use of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and risk of gastrointestinal cancers in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia: A population-based cohort study.

Pre-clinical evidence suggests that 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5ARi's), prescribed in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, reduce colorectal and gastro-oesophageal cancer incidence via action on the male hormonal pathway. However, few studies to date have investigated this association at the population level. Our study aimed to investigate the risk of colorectal and gastro-oesophageal cancers with the use of 5ARi's. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of new users of 5ARi's and alpha-blockers among patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia in the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Patients were followed until a first ever diagnosis of colorectal or gastro-oesophageal cancer, death from any cause or end of registration with the general practice or 31st of December 2017. Cox proportional hazards models with inverse probability of treatment weights were used to calculate weighted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of incident colorectal cancer or gastro-oesophageal cancer associated with the use of 5ARi's compared to alpha-blockers. During a mean follow-up of 6.6 years, we found no association between the use of 5ARi's and colorectal (HR: 1.13, 95% CI 0.91-1.41) or gastro-oesophageal (HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.76-1.63) cancer risk compared to alpha-blockers. Sensitivity analysis showed largely consistent results when varying lag periods, using multiple imputations, and accounting for competing risk of death. Our study found no association between the use of 5ARi's and risk of colorectal or gastro-oesophageal cancer in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Oral prednisolone and warfarin and risk of oesophageal cancer: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: A recent epidemiological study systematically screened 250 prescription medications for associations with oesophageal cancer risk, using Scottish data, and identified an increased risk with use of prednisolone and warfarin. We investigated whether oral prednisolone or warfarin use was associated with increased oesophageal cancer risk. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted within the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. In the primary analysis oesophageal cancer cases were identified from linked cancer registry records. Up to 5 cancer-free controls were matched to each case (based upon sex, birth year, GP practice and year of GP registration). Prednisolone and warfarin medications were identified from prescribing records. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using conditional logistic regression after adjusting for covariates including demographics, comorbidities and medication use. RESULTS: There were 4552 oesophageal cancer cases and 22,601 matched control participants. Overall, there was no evidence of an increased risk of oesophageal cancer with oral prednisolone use (unadjusted OR=1.16 95% CI 1.06, 1.27 and adjusted OR=0.99 95% CI 0.89, 1.11) or warfarin use (unadjusted OR=1.12 95% CI 0.99, 1.28 and adjusted OR=1.08 95% CI 0.92, 1.27). CONCLUSIONS: In this large population-based study, oral prednisolone and warfarin were not associated with oesophageal cancer risk.

Oesophageal cancer awareness and anticipated time to help-seeking: results from a population-based survey.

BACKGROUND: Modifying public awareness of oesophageal cancer symptoms might help to decrease late-stage diagnosis and, in turn, improve cancer outcomes. This study aimed to explore oesophageal cancer symptom awareness and determinants of lower awareness and anticipated time to help-seeking. METHODS: We invited 18,156 individuals aged 18 to 75 years using random sampling of the nationwide Dutch population registry. A cross-sectional web-based survey containing items adapted from the Awareness and Beliefs about Cancer measure (i.e., cancer symptom awareness, anticipated time to presentation with dysphagia, health beliefs, and sociodemographic variables) was filled out by 3106 participants (response rate: 17%). Descriptive statistics were calculated and logistic regression analyses were performed to explore determinants of awareness and anticipated presentation (dichotomised as <1 month or ≥1 month). RESULTS: The number of participants that recognised dysphagia as a potential symptom of cancer was low (47%) compared with symptoms of other cancer types (change in bowel habits: 77%; change of a mole: 93%; breast lump: 93%). In multivariable analyses, non-recognition of dysphagia was associated with male gender (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.43-0.58), lower education (OR 0.44, 0.35-0.54), and non-western migration background (OR 0.43, 0.28-0.67). Anticipated delayed help-seeking for dysphagia was associated with not recognising it as possible cancer symptom (OR 1.58, 1.27-1.97), perceived high risk of oesophageal cancer (OR 2.20, 1.39-3.47), and negative beliefs about oesophageal cancer (OR 1.86, 1.20-2.87). CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate a disconcertingly low public awareness of oesophageal cancer symptoms. Educational interventions targeting groups with decreased awareness and addressing negative cancer beliefs may lead to faster help-seeking behaviour, although additional studies are needed to determine the effect on clinical cancer outcomes.

Effectiveness of Endoscopic Screening on Esophageal Cancer Incidence and Mortality: A 9-Year Report of the Endoscopic Screening for Esophageal Cancer in China (ESECC) Randomized Trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of endoscopic screening against incidence of and mortality from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). METHODS: From January 2012 to September 2016, we conducted a community-based cluster randomized controlled trial involving permanent residents age 45-69 years in a high-risk region for ESCC in northern China. A total of 668 targeted villages were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the screening group (offered Lugol's chromoendoscopy) or control group (no screening). Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses were performed to compare esophageal cancer (EC) incidence and mortality between the two groups. The per-protocol analysis adjusted for nonadherence to the screening procedure. RESULTS: A total of 33,847 participants were included in the analysis: 17,104 in the screening group, 15,165 (88.7%) of whom underwent screening, and 16,743 in the control group. During a maximum follow-up of 9 years, EC incidence in the screening and control groups were 60.9 and 72.5 per 100,000 person-years, respectively; mortality in the screening and control groups were 29.7 and 32.4 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. Compared with the control group, the incidence and mortality of the screening group reduced by 19% (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.81 [95% CI, 0.60 to 1.09]) and 18% (aHR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.53 to 1.26]), respectively, in the intention-to-treat analysis; and by 22% (aHR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.56 to 1.10]) and 21% (aHR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.49 to 1.30]), respectively, in the per-protocol analysis. CONCLUSION: With a 9-year follow-up, our trial suggests that chromoendoscopic screening induces modest reductions in EC incidence and mortality. A more efficient strategy for EC screening and subsequent patient management should be established to guarantee the effectiveness of endoscopic screening.

Risk of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma After Bariatric Surgery: A Meta-Analysis of Retrospective Studies.

PURPOSE: This study aims to systematically review and meta-analyze the evidence on the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) following metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted on the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, and PubMed databases. Meta-analysis utilized odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to analyze the correlation between MBS and the risk of EAC. Meta-analysis was performed using STATA software (version 12.0). RESULTS: Fourteen studies involving patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery and control groups receiving conventional treatment were included. The meta-analysis indicated a reduction in the overall incidence of esophageal cancer after bariatric surgery (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.51-0.95, P = 0.022). Subgroup analysis results demonstrated a decreased risk of EAC in European patients with obesity undergoing MBS treatment (OR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.38-0.95, P = 0.028). In studies with a sample size greater than or equal to 100,000 patients, the risk of EAC in patients with obesity undergoing MBS was significantly lower than the non-surgery group (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.42-0.83, P = 0.003). Articles published before 2020 and those published in 2020 or earlier showed a significant difference in the incidence of EAC between the surgery and non-surgery groups (OR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.43-0.75, P < 0.001). The risk of EAC in patients with obesity with a follow-up time of less than 5 years was statistically significant (OR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.25-0.82, P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis results suggest a reduced risk of esophageal cancer in patients with obesity after bariatric surgery. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD 42024505177.

Optimal lymph node yield in oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer: a nationwide population-based study.

OBJECTIVES: The desirable lymph node count was determined to maximize the survival time expectancy according to the lymph node count among patients who have undergone oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer. METHODS: The data of national Finnish population-based cohort including all patients who have undergone oesophagectomy due to oesophageal cancer during 2002-2016 were used. Restricted mean survival time (RMST) estimates were determined by lymph node count, and the desirable count was determined using locally estimated scatterplot smoothing regression. RESULTS: A total of 883 patients with the median follow-up time of 3.73 (interquartile range 1.43-7.50) years were included. The lymph node count of 27 (95% confidence interval 25-28) was associated with the highest RMST estimates. Sensitivity analyses indicated that in pN0 patients, the highest RMST estimates was observed at 26 (95% confidence interval 24-28) lymph nodes and in pN+ patients, the RMST estimates peaked at 28 (95% confidence interval 25-33) lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings of this study, at least 24 examined lymph nodes is the recommended target for the lymph node count after oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer. The beneficial effect of this count on survival may be achieved regardless of nodal metastases.

Effects of physical and psychological symptoms on cancer-related fatigue among esophageal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is considered one of the most prevalent and distressing symptoms among cancer patients and may vary among patients with different cancer types. However, few studies have explored the influence of physical and psychological symptoms on CRF among esophageal cancer (EC) patients without esophagectomy. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of physical and psychological symptoms on CRF among EC patients without esophagectomy. METHODS: In the present study, a cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2021 to March 2022 in Liaoning Province, China. Among the 112 included participants, 97 completed our investigation. The questionnaires used consisted of the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Gastrointestinal Cancer Module (MDASI-GI), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and demographic and clinical information. Multivariate linear regression was conducted to test the relationships between physical and psychological symptoms and CRF. RESULTS: Of the 97 EC patients, 60.8% reported CRF (BFI ≥ 4). The mean age of the participants was 64.92 years (SD = 8.67). According to the regression model, all the variables explained 74.5% of the variance in CRF. Regression analysis indicated that physical symptoms, including constipation, diarrhoea, and difficulty swallowing, contributed to CRF. On the other hand, depressive symptoms increased the level of CRF among EC patients without esophagectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Given the high prevalence of CRF among EC patients without esophagectomy, it is urgent to emphasize the importance of fatigue management interventions based on physical and psychological symptoms to alleviate CRF in EC patients.