Esophageal adenocarcinoma and Barrett's esophagus

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is the most rapidly rising incidence cancer associated with a poor 5-year survival rate. Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a well established premalignant condition for the development of EAC and hence it is imperative that patients with BE or at risk for developing BE should be identified and managed appropriately. The endoscopic recognition of BE should include the assessment of the circumferential (C) and maximum (M) extent of the endoscopically visualized BE segment as well as endocsopic landmarks (The Prague C&M criteria). Although controversial, clinical strategies of screening and surveillance have focused on identification of esophageal neoplasia at an early asymptomatic and curable stage with the ultimate goal of preventing deaths from this cancer. Risk stratification that involves screening and surveillance of high risk individuals may improve the efficacy and effectiveness of these programs. The future of this endeavor lies in the identification and validation of biomarkers coupled with enhanced endoscopic techniques such as narrow band imaging, autofluorescence imaging, confocal laser endomicroscopy etc. Endoscopic therapies (endoscopic mucosal resection, ablative therapies) have become attractive alternatives for the treatment of high grade dysplasia and/or early EAC in BE patients. The main stays of treatment of advanced cancers are debulking surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and palliative care measures.