research
Adenocarcinomas of the gastro-oesophageal junction : from gene to clinic
- Publication date
- 6 June 2001
- Publisher
- Adenocarcinomas of the gastro-oesophageal junction are thought to arise from
premalignant Barretr's epithelium. Barrett's epithelium is columnar epithelium that
has replaced the normal squamous cell lining of the oesopha",ous. This metaplastic
change is driven by duodeno-gastro-oesophageal reflu.'(, which leads to oesophagitis
and ultimately, in some patients, to Barrett's epithelium. The development of
Barrett's carcinoma involves multiple genetic changes.
In PART I, the general introduction of this thesis, CHAPTER 1 reviews our current
knowledge on these genetic changes involved in the progression from Barrett's
oesophagus to adenocarcinoma.
Over the past decades, many researchers focused on the role of cell-cell adhesion in
carcinogenesis. The E-cadherin-catenin complex is thought to be the most
important regulator of tight cell-cell adhesion in normal tissues, and perturbation of
this complex is associated with malignancy. There is evidence that dysfunction of
the E-cadherin-catenin complex also plays an important role in the pathogenesis of
adenocarcinomas of the gastro-oesophageal junction. In CHAPTER 2, the literature
on the role of the E-cadherin-catenin complex in human cancer and the possible
clinical implications are discussed. This chapter serves as an introduction to Part IV
(chapters 7-10).
PART II of the thesis deals ",~th epidemiological and clinical aspects of
adenocarcinomas of the gastro-oesophageal junction.
