Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Methods and Protocols

1

Alfred K. Lam (ed.), Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology, vol. 1756,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7734-5_1, © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2018

Chapter 1

Introduction: Esophageal Adenocarcinoma:

Updates of Current Status

Alfred K. Lam

Abstract

Esophageal and esophagogastric adenocarcinoma is highly prevalent in the Western populations and is a
major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. The incidence of esophageal adenocar-
cinoma is rapidly rising in the Western populations. The major predisposing diseases and pathogenesis
(gastro-esophageal reflux disease, Barrett esophagus, and dysplasia) of the cancer are well known. There is
an urgent need for works of the multidisciplinary teams (clinical, pathological, the molecular biology and
translational research) for improved outcomes of patients with this cancer.

Key words Esophageal adenocarcinoma, Epidemiology, Incidence, Barrett esophagus, Prognosis

1 Epidemiology

Esophageal cancer is a unique cancer in terms of distribution of

histology and worldwide incidence. In high incidence areas, mostly

with Asian populations (China and Japan), the esophageal cancer is

almost exclusively squamous cell carcinoma [ 1 ]. Esophageal ade-

nocarcinoma is an exception in these regions. On the other hand,

in relatively lower incidence areas, mostly with Western popula-

tions, the esophageal cancer is predominately adenocarcinoma. In

Western populations, squamous cell carcinoma still contributes a

small portion of total number of esophageal cancer. The incidence

of esophageal adenocarcinoma is highest in North America,

Northern and Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand [ 2 ].

Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer world-

wide. In the recent years, the incidence of esophageal squamous

cell carcinoma has decreased in most countries. In contrast, there

is a rapid increase in esophageal adenocarcinoma in the Western

populations and especially in high-income countries [ 3 ]. The rea-

sons for its rapidly increasing incidence could be the rising preva-

lence of gastro-esophageal reflux and obesity, combined with the

decreasing prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection [ 4 ]. The