Esophagus

Conclusion The high incidence rate of and poor survival from esophageal cancer provide a compelling rationale for identifying precursor lesions that distinguish individuals at high risk of developing invasive carcinoma. Such biomarkers are potentially useful in two major ways. First, they can be employed as intermediate outcomes for observational studies and prevention trials. Using an intermediate endpoint, as opposed to a cancer endpoint, can substantially reduce the number of participants and length of follow-up needed to test hypotheses. It can also allow the determination of the stage(s) at which specific risk factors act, which can shed light on mechanisms of action and help identify specific interventions that are most effective for a particular precancerous disease state. Second, they can identify persons who would be most likely to benefit from cancer prevention activities. These might include modification of exposure to risk or preventive factors, medical or surgical interventions aimed at eliminating precancerous lesions before they progress to cancer, and surveillance programs designed to identify cancerous or near-cancerous lesions at an early, treatable stage.