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ShareMay 31, 2011 — In recent years, the number of cases of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (or gullet) has been on the rise. At the same time, however, new ways of treatment are improving the outlook for patients. In the current issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, Angelika Behrens and her working group report on innovations in diagnosis and treatment.
The main cause of this cancer is reflux of gastric acid from the stomach, with heartburn as the main symptom. Other risk factors are being male, being overweight, and having relatives with this disease.
Today, doctors are able to discover and treat adenocarcinoma (Barrett's carcinoma) at an early stage. This has chiefly been made possible by the introduction of high-definition videoendoscopy and endosonography (endoscopic ultrasound). Locally restricted tumors can be resected endoscopically. For locally advanced Barrett's carcinoma, the standard treatment is surgery combined with chemotherapy. For esophageal cancer that has already metastasized, there are new approaches to therapy based at the molecular level. So-called molecular targeting uses antibodies or small molecules to alter signal transduction directly inside the tumor cell and thus inhibit growth.
The authors also report on their experience of treating over 1000 patients with this cancer.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Deutsches Aerzteblatt International, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Angelika Behrens, Oliver Pech, Florian Graupe, Andrea May, Dietmar Lorenz, Christian Ell. Barrett's Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus: Better Outcomes Through New Methods of Diagnosis and Treatment. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 2011; 108 (18): 313-9 DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2011.0313
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
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