Met expression is an independent prognostic risk factor in patients with oesophageal adenocarcinoma

Oesophageal adenocarcinoma is an aggressive malignancy with propensity for early lymphatic and haematogenous dissemination. Since conventional TNM staging does not provide accurate prognostic information, novel molecular prognostic markers and potential therapeutic targets are subject of intense research. The aim of the present study was to study the prognostic significance of Met, the hepatic growth factor ( HGF) receptor and a possible target for therapy in comparison to cyclooxygenase- 2 ( COX- 2). Tumour sections from 145 consecutive patients undergoing intentionally curative surgery for oesophageal adenocarcinoma were immunohistochemically analysed for Met and COX- 2 expression. Clinicopathological data were prospectively collected for all patients. Patients with high Met expression had significantly reduced overall and disease- specific 5- year survival rates ( P <= 0.001 and P <= 0.001, respectively) and were more likely to develop distant metastases ( P = 0.002) and local recurrences ( P =0.004) compared to patients with low Met expression. High COX- 2 expression tended to be correlated with poor long- term survival but this did not reach statistical significance. Expression of Met was recognised as a significant and independent prognostic factor by stage- specific analysis and multivariate analysis ( relative risk 2.3; 95% CI 1.3 - 4.1). These findings support the importance of Met in oesophageal adenocarcinoma and support the concept of Met tyrosine kinase inhibition as ( neo-) adjuvant treatment

Portal Hypertensive Enteropathy in Liver Cirrhosis

Background/Aim: Some studies found that portal hypertension cause complication such as portal hypertensive gastroenterocolopathy. This study was done to find any abnormalities in the small intestinal mucosa and villi of the portal hypertensive patients. Method: Thirty patients with liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension and esophageal varices between 2000 - 2001 were included in this study. A duodenoscopic examination was performed to determine any abnormalities. Biopsy specimens were taken from the descending part of duodenum and the duodenal bulb for histopathological examination. The findings were compared to 37 functional dyspepsia patients. Result: In the duodenal bulb and descending part of duodenum: the width of the villous of the portal hypertensive group was larger than the control (p < 0.001), the diameter of the mucosal villous vessel was larger than in the control (p < 0.001) and the thickness of the mucosal villous vessel wall was thicker than in the control (p < 0.001). Conclusion: There were abnormalities of the mucosa in portal hypertensive enteropathy patients including the mucosal vessel diameter, wall thickness, number of goblet cells. Keywords: portal hypertensive enteropathy, liver cirrhosi