Biomaterial Database

Barrett's esophagus: an overview of the molecular biology. 1999

D Aldulaimi, and J Jankowski

Department of Medicine, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK.

The significance of specialized intestinal metaplasia in the esophagus is its associated risk with esophageal adenocarcinoma. This tumor has increased in incidence by over 70% in 20 years. Specialized intestinal metaplasia is the most important risk factor for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and has been reported in 9-32% of unselected patients in general endoscopy units. The annual risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma for patients with specialized intestinal metaplasia is thought to be approximately 1%, at least 30 times that of the general population. Those with long segments of specialized intestinal metaplasia are thought to be at the greatest risk. Both environmental and molecular changes have been identified in the transition from squamous epithelium through specialized intestinal metaplasia to esophageal adenocarcinoma. The most important molecular changes include impaired regulation of the cell cycle, altered function of known oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes, changes in cell adhesion molecules, and aneuploidy. This has given rise to a metaplasia/dysplasia/carcinoma model for the evolution of esophageal carcinoma.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007422	Intestines	The section of the alimentary canal from the STOMACH to the ANAL CANAL. It includes the LARGE INTESTINE and SMALL INTESTINE.	Intestine
D008679	Metaplasia	A condition in which there is a change of one adult cell type to another similar adult cell type.
D004938	Esophageal Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the ESOPHAGUS.	Cancer of Esophagus,Esophageal Cancer,Cancer of the Esophagus,Esophagus Cancer,Esophagus Neoplasm,Neoplasms, Esophageal,Cancer, Esophageal,Cancer, Esophagus,Cancers, Esophageal,Cancers, Esophagus,Esophageal Cancers,Esophageal Neoplasm,Esophagus Cancers,Esophagus Neoplasms,Neoplasm, Esophageal,Neoplasm, Esophagus,Neoplasms, Esophagus
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000230	Adenocarcinoma	A malignant epithelial tumor with a glandular organization.	Adenocarcinoma, Basal Cell,Adenocarcinoma, Granular Cell,Adenocarcinoma, Oxyphilic,Adenocarcinoma, Tubular,Adenoma, Malignant,Carcinoma, Cribriform,Carcinoma, Granular Cell,Carcinoma, Tubular,Adenocarcinomas,Adenocarcinomas, Basal Cell,Adenocarcinomas, Granular Cell,Adenocarcinomas, Oxyphilic,Adenocarcinomas, Tubular,Adenomas, Malignant,Basal Cell Adenocarcinoma,Basal Cell Adenocarcinomas,Carcinomas, Cribriform,Carcinomas, Granular Cell,Carcinomas, Tubular,Cribriform Carcinoma,Cribriform Carcinomas,Granular Cell Adenocarcinoma,Granular Cell Adenocarcinomas,Granular Cell Carcinoma,Granular Cell Carcinomas,Malignant Adenoma,Malignant Adenomas,Oxyphilic Adenocarcinoma,Oxyphilic Adenocarcinomas,Tubular Adenocarcinoma,Tubular Adenocarcinomas,Tubular Carcinoma,Tubular Carcinomas
D001471	Barrett Esophagus	A condition with damage to the lining of the lower ESOPHAGUS resulting from chronic acid reflux (ESOPHAGITIS, REFLUX). Through the process of metaplasia, the squamous cells are replaced by a columnar epithelium with cells resembling those of the INTESTINE or the salmon-pink mucosa of the STOMACH. Barrett's columnar epithelium is a marker for severe reflux and precursor to ADENOCARCINOMA of the esophagus.	Barrett Syndrome,Esophagus, Barrett,Barrett Epithelium,Barrett Metaplasia,Barrett's Esophagus,Barrett's Syndrome,Barrett Metaplasias,Barretts Esophagus,Barretts Syndrome,Epithelium, Barrett,Esophagus, Barrett's,Metaplasia, Barrett,Metaplasias, Barrett
D015820	Cadherins	Calcium-dependent cell adhesion proteins. They are important in the formation of ADHERENS JUNCTIONS between cells. Cadherins are classified by their distinct immunological and tissue specificities, either by letters (E- for epithelial, N- for neural, and P- for placental cadherins) or by numbers (cadherin-12 or N-cadherin 2 for brain-cadherin). Cadherins promote cell adhesion via a homophilic mechanism as in the construction of tissues and of the whole animal body.	Cadherin,E-Cadherins,Epithelial-Cadherin,Liver Cell Adhesion Molecules,N-Cadherins,Neural Cadherin,P-Cadherins,Uvomorulin,Cadherin-1,Cadherin-2,Cadherin-3,E-Cadherin,Epithelial-Cadherins,Liver Cell Adhesion Molecule,N-Cadherin,Neural Cadherins,P-Cadherin,Placental Cadherins,Cadherin 1,Cadherin 2,Cadherin 3,Cadherin, Neural,Cadherins, Neural,Cadherins, Placental,E Cadherin,E Cadherins,Epithelial Cadherin,Epithelial Cadherins,N Cadherin,N Cadherins,P Cadherin,P Cadherins
D017209	Apoptosis	A regulated cell death mechanism characterized by distinctive morphologic changes in the nucleus and cytoplasm, including the endonucleolytic cleavage of genomic DNA, at regularly spaced, internucleosomal sites, i.e., DNA FRAGMENTATION. It is genetically programmed and serves as a balance to mitosis in regulating the size of animal tissues and in mediating pathologic processes associated with tumor growth.	Apoptosis, Extrinsic Pathway,Apoptosis, Intrinsic Pathway,Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis,Classic Apoptosis,Classical Apoptosis,Programmed Cell Death,Programmed Cell Death, Type I,Apoptoses, Extrinsic Pathway,Apoptoses, Intrinsic Pathway,Apoptosis, Caspase-Dependent,Apoptosis, Classic,Apoptosis, Classical,Caspase Dependent Apoptosis,Cell Death, Programmed,Classic Apoptoses,Extrinsic Pathway Apoptoses,Extrinsic Pathway Apoptosis,Intrinsic Pathway Apoptoses,Intrinsic Pathway Apoptosis