A genetic modification in the mucous membrane of the oesophagus, the Barrett oesophagus, can lead to oesophageal cancer.

If certain biomarkers are contained in these tissue alterations, so-called miDNA, these are extremely short DNA strands, it could be an indication that this preliminary stage of oesophageal cancer indeed leads to cancer.

This was discovered by scientists of the Gastroesophageal Tumor Unit (CCC-GET) of the Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) Vienna of the MedUni Vienna and the AKH Vienna in a joint study with the National Institutes of Health, USA, and the Johns Hopkins University, USA.

Oesophageal cancer is the eighth most common tumour disease in the western world.

A subtype, the adeno carcinoma, is the kind of cancer with the strongest relative increase during the past 10 years, namely around 600% in men and up to 380% in women.

The highest risk factor for oesophageal cancer is heartburn, i.e. the reflux of sour and acrid stomach liquid into the oesophagus (reflux).

If reflux remains untreated, it can lead to genetic changes in the mucous membrane and thus to the outbreak of the disease in the long term.

One preliminary stage of adeno carcinoma is the so-called Barrett oesophagus, which also exhibits mutations in the mucous membrane.

Barrett oesophagus leads to oesophageal cancer in 0.5% of the cases.

In order to prevent a malignant development, physicians recommend the removal of this mucosal change.

Control modules for the tumour development

As not all cases of Barrett oesophagus become malignant, it is important for the treating physician to know whether there are reliable indicators (so-called biomarkers) which allow the estimation of a tumour development in the still benign tissue.

Sebastian Schoppmann of the University Clinic for Surgery at the MedUni Vienna and the AKH Vienna, Chief of CCC-GET and one of the managers of the study: "In this project, we have examined the role of molecular-biological control modules for this tumour occurrence, the so-called miDNA in the affected tissue with the aid of a gene test. Our results show that the miDNA profiles of oesophageal cancer are indeed different from Barrett oesophagus."

Risk estimation and cost-saving disease control

The results of the study suggest that, based on the existence of specific miDNA, it is possible to estimate whether the existing change in the mucous membrane develops into a malignant disease.

It would save patients from enduring the removal of the Barrett oesophagus and save costs with respect to the follow-up checks of the disease.

Top cooperation

All 300 patients who participated in the study were procured from the CCC-GET unit of MedUni Vienna and AKH Vienna. Schoppmann: "The cooperation with the National Institutes of Health and the Johns Hopkins University, both extremely renowned establishments in the USA, is a great success. The cooperation not only shows the expertise we have developed during the past years, but also that it is recognised in international circles."

Source: Medical University of Vienna