crossing96/oncoscreening huggingface dataset:
Prognostic significance of baseline positron emission tomography and importance of clinical complete response in patients with esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy.	BACKGROUND: Metabolic imaging is of interest in esophageal cancer; however, the usefulness of initial standardized uptake value (SUV) in positron emission tomography (PET) is unknown in patients with esophageal or gastroesophageal carcinoma treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy. The authors hypothesized that initial SUV would correlate with patient outcome. METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed esophageal or gastroesophageal carcinoma patients who had baseline PET and endoscopic ultrasonography in addition to other routine staging. All patients received definitive chemoradiotherapy. Multiple statistical methods were used. RESULTS: The authors analyzed 209 consecutive esophageal or gastroesophageal carcinoma patients treated with definitive chemoradiation for outcome; of these, 180 had baseline PET for additional analyses. The median overall survival (OS) for all patients was 20.7 months (95% confidence interval, 18.8-26.3). Patients with clinical complete response (CR) lived longer than those with less than clinical CR (P < .0001). The median initial SUV was 12.7 (range, 0-51). Higher initial SUV was associated with longer tumors (P = .0001), higher T-stage status (P < .0001), positive N-stage status (P = .0001), higher overall stage (P < .0001), lack of clinical CR (P = .0002), and squamous cell histology (P < .0001). In the univariate analysis, initial SUV was associated with OS (Cox model, P = .016; log-rank test, P = .002). In the multivariate analysis, initial SUV dichotomized by the median value (P = .024) and tumor grade (P = .016) proved to be independent OS prognosticators. Median initial SUV for clinical CR patients was 10.2, compared with 15.3 for less than clinical CR patients (P = .0058). CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that a higher initial SUV is associated with poorer OS in patients with esophageal or gastroesophageal carcinoma receiving definitive chemoradiation. Upon validation, baseline PET may become a useful stratification factor in randomized trials and for individualizing therapy.	esophagus
Prevalence and association of human papillomavirus 16, Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex virus-1 and cytomegalovirus infection with human esophageal carcinoma: a case-control study.	Recent research shows esophageal carcinoma (EC) as the ninth most common malignancy in the world. The association of viral infection and EC has been reported in the last 30 years. However, geographic variation in infection rates and the key mechanisms of the viral action have yet to be resolved. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and association of human papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16), herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in the etiology of EC in the area of Shantou, Guangdong, China. Nested PCR was used to detect viral DNA in the mucosa of 70 cases of EC and in paracancerous tissues, as well as 100 cases of normal esophagus mucosa. Data were analyzed by χ2 test, Fisher's exact test and bivariate correlation analysis. The infection rates of HPV-16, HSV-1 and EBV were 40.0, 30.0 and 30.0%, respectively, in EC mucosa, and were significantly higher than those in normal mucosa. However, no CMV DNA was detected in either EC or normal mucosa. HPV-16 or EBV infection was mainly detected in EC patients 48-58 years old, and the infection rate was positively associated with pathological grade of EC (P<0.05). Tobacco smoking and alcohol consuption were high risk factors for HPV-16 infection for male patients [odds ratio (OR), 5.9; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.4-24.6; OR = 3.8; 95% CI, 1.1-13.8]. Rates of infection with a mixture of these 3 viruses were all more than 10.0% in cancerous mucosa and closely related to the pathological grade of EC (P = 0.001). Infection with HPV-16, HSV-1 or EBV may be an important etiological factor in EC.	esophagus
miR-223 regulates migration and invasion by targeting Artemin in human esophageal carcinoma.	BACKGROUND: Artemin (ARTN) is a neurotrophic factor belonging to the glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor family of ligands. To develop potential therapy targeting ARTN, we studied the roles of miR-223 in the migration and invasion of human esophageal carcinoma. METHODS: ARTN expression levels were detected in esophageal carcinoma cell lines KYSE-150, KYSE-510, EC-9706, TE13, esophageal cancer tissues and paired non-cancerous tissues by Western blot. Artemin siRNA expression vectors were constructed to knockdown of artemin expression mitigated migration and invasiveness in KYSE150 cells. Monolayer wound healing assay and Transwell invasion assay were applied to observe cancer cell migration and invasion. The relative levels of expression were quantified by real-time quantitative PCR. RESULTS: ARTN expression levels were higher in esophageal carcinoma tissue than in the adjacent tissue and was differentially expressed in various esophageal carcinoma cell lines. ARTN mRNA contains a binding site for miR-223 in the 3'UTR. Co-transfection of a mir-223 expression vector with pMIR-ARTN led to the reduced activity of luciferase in a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay, suggesting that ARTN is a target gene of miR-223. Overexpression of miR-223 decreased expression of ARTN in KYSE150 cells while silencing miR-223 increased expression of ARTN in EC9706 cells. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-223 in KYSE150 cells decreased cell migration and invasion. Silencing of miR-223 in EC9706 cells increased cell migration and invasiveness. CONCLUSIONS: These results reveal that ARTN, a known tumor metastasis-related gene, is a direct target of miR-223 and that miR-223 may have a tumor suppressor function in esophageal carcinoma and could be used in anticancer therapies.	esophagus
How radical should surgery be for early esophageal cancer?	BACKGROUND: We have compared the oncologic effectiveness of limited resection (LR) techniques such as transhiatal (TH) or limited resection of the esophagogastric junction with intestinal interposition (LREGJ) in the treatment of early esophageal carcinoma with that of the extended resection such as the classical thoracoabdominal (TA) en bloc esophagectomy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of 113 patients with T1 esophageal cancer (57 adeno- and 56 squamous cell carcinomas) who had surgical resection with systematic lymphadenectomy. Forty-one underwent extensive (TA) and 72 limited resection (51 TH and 21 LREGJ). RESULTS: Complete resection (R0) was achieved in all cases. Lymphatic metastases were seen in none of the mucosal but in 26.8% of the submucosal T1 cancers. The median lymph node yield was significantly higher in patients with extensive resection (24 vs. 15 lymph nodes; p=0.036), but this did not affect the overall survival (median=88 vs. 102 months, 5-year survival probability=57.8 vs. 67.7%; log rank=0.578). The median hospital stay and ICU stay were significantly shorter in the LR group (p=0.039 and p = 0.044, respectively). CONCLUSION: Limited resection leads to lower lymph node yield but similar oncologic effectiveness as the extensive surgery. It may represent a valuable alternative in the treatment of patients with early (submucosal) esophageal carcinoma.	esophagus
Transcriptional factor Prox1 plays an essential role in the antiproliferative action of interferon-γ in esophageal cancer cells.	BACKGROUND: We previously reported interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-induced apoptosis in 10 (32%) of 31 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell lines. However, the molecular basis of antiproliferative action by IFN-γ remains elusive. Here we demonstrate that IFN-γ induces transcriptional factor Prox1, and we explore the link between Prox1 and the IFN-γ system in ESCC cells. METHODS: By using ESCC cell lines, we investigated the relationship between p53 mutations and the responsibility to IFN-γ, and studied the role of Prox1 in the antiproliferative effect of IFN-γ by knockdown and overexpression methods. RESULTS: p53 mutations were found in seven of nine ESCC cell lines responsible for IFN-γ. The frequency was not different from that of p53 mutations in total ESCC cell lines (21 of 28 cell lines). Treatment of ESCC cells with IFN-β but not IFN-γ resulted in increase of p53 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression, whereas IFN-γ but not IFN-β induced cell growth inhibition of ESCCs harboring p53 mutations. IFN-γ induced Prox1 expression in ESCC cells but not in those transfected with dominant-negative STAT1. Cell growth inhibition by IFN-γ was significantly suppressed in ESCC cells transfected with Prox1 short interfering RNA (siRNA). In addition, overexpression of Prox1 induced antiproliferative effect in ESCC cells. We also demonstrate that Prox1 is expressed in primary esophageal cancer tissues (five of nine samples treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery). CONCLUSIONS: Prox1 mediates the antiproliferative effect by IFN-γ in ESCC cells. Prox1 may be a candidate target for novel therapeutic strategies of ESCCs.	esophagus
Apoptosis in esophagus and pancreas carcinoma cells induced by circulating microparticles is related to phosphatidyl serine and microparticle-associated caspases.	"Circulating microparticles (MPs) are recently discussed as ""biologically active"", participating in the pathology of diseases rather than being a marker of damaging processes. It was the purpose of the present study to investigate the effects of MPs, as isolated from the blood of healthy volunteers, on the induction of apoptosis and necrosis in cultured KYSE-270 esophageal and ASPC1 pancreas carcinoma cells. MPs were obtained from the blood of 20 healthy volunteers (11 women; mean age 33.3 years). Viability, apoptosis, and necrosis were determined by flow cytometry using Annexin V/propidium iodide and tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester perchlorate (TMRE)/propidium iodide for staining. Incubation of KYSE and ASPC1 carcinoma cells with MPs (1-20.000/μl) for 48 h reduced significantly viability of the cells, and induced apoptosis, but not necrosis. This apoptotic effect was significant at a concentration of ≥1.000 MPs/μl in both cell types. Pre-treatment of MPs with either the global caspase inhibitor ZVAD-FMK or Annexin V which blocks phosphatidyl serine in the outer membrane of MPs with high affinity, almost abolished MP-induced apoptosis. A specific enzyme assay as well Western blot analysis confirmed the presence (activity, protein) of the apoptotic enzyme caspase-3 in MPs. Incubation of carcinoma cells with MPs (20.000/μl) resulted in an increase in caspase-3 protein in carcinoma cells; this increase could be prevented by pre-treatment of MPs with Annexin V. It is suggested that MPs induce concentration-dependent apoptosis in KSYE esophageal and ASPC1 pancreas carcinoma cells in vitro by transferring caspases into target cells. This process probably requires a target cell-MP interaction, and membrane-bound anionic phosphatidyl serine may be involved."	esophagus
Unusual metastasis to all the digits of both hands in a patient previously operated on for esophageal carcinoma.	Metastatic malignancies to the hand, although rare, usually develop from lung, breast, and kidney tumors. Very rarely the origin is the gastrointestinal system. Metastases to the bones of the hand can cause pain, swelling, soft tissue ulceration, and osteolytic destruction. We present a patient with metastatic tumors to all digits of both hands 2.5 years after being operated on for esophageal carcinoma. The patient underwent amputation of the left little finger followed by systemic chemotherapy. The histopathological diagnosis was consistent with that of the primary tumor. This case is being presented for being the rarest of its kind and may even be the first of its nature in the world's literature as an extensive search has not shown another of its kind to date.	esophagus
TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism is associated with esophageal cancer risk: a meta-analysis.	"AIM: To investigate the association between TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and esophageal cancer (EC) risk using meta-analysis. METHODS: All eligible studies published before March 1, 2010 were selected by searching PubMed using keywords ""p53"" or ""TP53"", ""polymorphism"" or ""variation"", ""esophageal"" and ""cancer"" or ""carcinoma"". Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were assessed for EC risk associated with TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism using fixed- and random-effects models. RESULTS: Nine case-control studies involving 5545 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. Significantly reduced risk of EC was associated with TP53 genotypes for Arg/Arg + Arg/Pro vs Pro/Pro (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.57-0.94, P = 0.014). Subgroup analyses according to the source of controls and the specimens used for determining TP53 Arg72Pro genotypes or sample size showed that significantly reduced risk was observed only in studies which have population-based controls (Arg/Arg vs Pro/Pro: OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.47-0.66, P < 0.001), and use white blood cells or normal tissue to assess TP53 genotypes of cases (Arg/Arg vs Pro/Pro: OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.47-0.65, P < 0.001) or include at least 200 subjects (Arg/Arg vs Pro/Pro: OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.47-0.65, P < 0.001). Analysis restricted to well-designed studies also supported the significantly decreased risk of EC (Arg/Arg vs Pro/Pro: OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.46-0.64, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: TP53 Arg72 carriers are significantly associated with decreased EC risk. Nevertheless, more well-designed studies are needed to confirm our findings."	esophagus
Perioperative chemotherapy compared with surgery alone for resectable gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma: an FNCLCC and FFCD multicenter phase III trial.	PURPOSE: After curative resection, the prognosis of gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma is poor. This phase III trial was designed to evaluate the benefit in overall survival (OS) of perioperative fluorouracil plus cisplatin in resectable gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Overall, 224 patients with resectable adenocarcinoma of the lower esophagus, gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), or stomach were randomly assigned to either perioperative chemotherapy and surgery (CS group; n = 113) or surgery alone (S group; n = 111). Chemotherapy consisted of two or three preoperative cycles of intravenous cisplatin (100 mg/m(2)) on day 1, and a continuous intravenous infusion of fluorouracil (800 mg/m(2)/d) for 5 consecutive days (days 1 to 5) every 28 days and three or four postoperative cycles of the same regimen. The primary end point was OS. RESULTS: Compared with the S group, the CS group had a better OS (5-year rate 38% v 24%; hazard ratio [HR] for death: 0.69; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.95; P = .02); and a better disease-free survival (5-year rate: 34% v 19%; HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.89; P = .003). In the multivariable analysis, the favorable prognostic factors for survival were perioperative chemotherapy (P = .01) and stomach tumor localization (P < .01). Perioperative chemotherapy significantly improved the curative resection rate (84% v 73%; P = .04). Grade 3 to 4 toxicity occurred in 38% of CS patients (mainly neutropenia) but postoperative morbidity was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: In patients with resectable adenocarcinoma of the lower esophagus, GEJ, or stomach, perioperative chemotherapy using fluorouracil plus cisplatin significantly increased the curative resection rate, disease-free survival, and OS.	esophagus
Angiogenesis-related molecular targets in esophageal cancer.	INTRODUCTION: Angiogenesis has become an appealing target in cancer therapy due to its fundamental role in cancer growth and metastasis. A number of angiogenesis-related molecules are under investigation, with some already in clinical practice with various results. The effort to present and discuss the current status of the research on the angiogenesis-related molecular targets will lead to improved clinical strategies and outcomes for patients with esophageal cancer (EC). AREAS COVERED: This review summarizes the recent advances in angiogenesis-related targets in EC, and also analyzes the clinical and therapeutic applications they provide. We envisage future developments towards the anti-angiogenic strategy of molecular targets and their potential applications to cancer treatment. EXPERT OPINION: Angiogenesis-related targets can be used as a useful therapeutic tool for EC. More investigations should be performed to promote the success of anti-angiogenic therapy in clinical trials.	esophagus
Influence of estradiol analogue on cell growth, morphology and death in esophageal carcinoma cells.	2-Methoxyestradiol-bis-sulphamate is a bis-sulphamoylated derivative of the naturally occurring 17-beta-estradiol metabolite namely 2-methoxyestradiol. 2-Methoxyestradiol-bis-sulphamate is regarded as a potential anticancer drug with increased antiproliferative activity when compared to 2-methoxyestradiol. The aim of this pilot in vitro study was to determine the influence of 2-methoxyestradiol-bis-sulphamate on cell growth, morphology and possible induction of certain types of cell death in the SNO esophageal carcinoma cell line. A dose-dependent study (0.2-1.0 microM) was conducted with an exposure time of 24 hours. Data revealed that 2-methoxyestradiol-bis-sulphamate reduced cell numbers statistically significantly to 74% after exposure to 0.4 microM of the drug. Morphological studies including light microscopy demonstrated hallmarks of apoptosis, while fluorescent microscopy revealed both the presence of apoptosis and autophagy as types of cell death being induced in SNO cells after 24 hours of exposure to 0.4 microM 2-methoxyestradiol-bis-sulphamate.	esophagus
Postoperative weight loss does not resolve after esophagectomy despite normal serum ghrelin levels.	BACKGROUND: Esophagectomy after gastric reconstruction leads to significant weight loss. Ghrelin is known to stimulate appetite and cause weight increase. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship of serum ghrelin levels and weight loss in patients after esophagectomy for cancer. METHODS: Twenty-two patients underwent esophagectomy including gastric reconstruction. Serum ghrelin levels and weight were measured preoperatively and then postoperatively for 12 months in all patients. A questionnaire assessed appetite, amount of food eaten, satisfaction, and frequency of eating. RESULTS: Preoperatively, the mean serum ghrelin level was 67.9 ± 42.6 (fmol/mL ± SD), and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery were 43.4 ± 28.1, 51.5 ± 32.2, 67.1 ± 50.9, and 84.9 ± 43.1, respectively. Compared with preoperative values, the mean body mass index decreased by 1.9 ± 1.5, 2.3 ± 1.8, 2.1 ± 2.3, 2.4 ± 2.7 at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. While appetite score showed a decrease at 1 month (1.6 ± 0.92), appetite increased by 12 months postoperatively (2.7 ± 1.0) and showed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.743) with serum ghrelin levels. There were no significant differences in ghrelin levels when patients were stratified by disease stage, recurrence, or administration of adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Esophagectomy resulted in temporary reduction of ghrelin levels, but while levels returned to normal 3 months later, weight loss persisted at 12 months. Further study is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of persistent weight loss and design therapeutic interventions to recover the weight lost.	esophagus
Multiple solitary leiomyomas in the esophagus: report of a case.	We herein report our findings for an asymptomatic 65-year-old man presenting with multiple solitary leiomyomas in the esophagus, who was undergoing follow-up for primary aldosteronism with high levels of serum progesterone. Esophageal endoscopy and computed tomography showed multiple submucosal tumors with calcification in the thoracic esophagus. A subtotal esophagectomy was performed because the possibility of malignancy could not be ruled out based on a needle biopsy taken of the specimen. The final resected specimen showed eight solitary, encapsulated nodules between the middle and lower thoracic esophagus. Histopathological examinations showed these nodules to have the typical histological findings of leiomyomas. In addition, staining with antibodies against the progesterone receptor revealed diffuse expression in the nuclei of the leiomyoma cells. Only four cases with more than eight solitary leiomyomas have been reported, including the current case. However, this is the first reported case where primary aldosteronism with elevated serum progesterone levels has been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple solitary leiomyomas in the esophagus.	esophagus
Modified radiology-guided percutaneous gastrostomy (MRPG) for patients with complete obstruction of the upper digestive tract and who are without endoscopic or nasogastric access.	OBJECTIVE: We wanted to report on our experience with modified radiology-guided percutaneous gastrostomy (MRPG) without endoscopic or nasogastric access for treating patients with complete obstruction of the upper digestive tract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen oncology patients (13 had hypopharyngeal cancer and 1 had upper esophageal cancer) with complete obstruction of the upper digestive tract were recruited. Conventional percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and radiologic (fluoroscopy-guided) percutaneous gastrostomy (RPG) were not feasible in all the patients. An MRPG technique (with a combination of ultrasound, an air enema and fluoroscopic guidance) was performed in these patients. RESULTS: We achieved successfully percutaneous gastrostomy using the modified technique in all patients without any major or minor complications after the procedure. CONCLUSION: A modified radiology-guided percutaneous gastrostomy technique can be safely performed in patients who failed to receive conventional PEG or RPG due to the absence of nasogastric access in the completely obstructed upper digestive tract.	esophagus
Alcohol drinking and esophageal cancer risk: an evaluation based on a systematic review of epidemiologic evidence among the Japanese population.	Although alcohol drinking is considered as an important risk factor for esophageal cancer, the magnitude of the association might be varied among geographic areas. Therefore, we reviewed epidemiologic studies on the association between alcohol drinking and esophageal cancer among the Japanese population. Original data were obtained from MEDLINE, searched using PubMed or from searches of the Ichushi database, complemented with manual searches. Evaluation of associations was based on the strength of evidence ('convincing', 'probable', 'possible' or 'insufficient') and the magnitude of association ('strong', 'moderate', 'weak' or 'no association'), together with biological plausibility as previously evaluated by the International Agency of Research on Cancer. We identified four cohort studies and nine case-control studies. All cohort studies and case-control studies showed strong positive associations between esophageal cancer and alcohol drinking. All cohort studies and six case-control studies showed that alcohol drinking had the dose- or frequency-response relationships with esophageal cancer. In addition, four case-control studies showed that acetaldehyde dehydrogenase Glu504Lys polymorphism had strong effect modification with alcohol drinking. We conclude that there is convincing evidence that alcohol drinking increases the risk of esophageal cancer in the Japanese population.	esophagus