Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a pre-malignant condition associated with esophageal adenocarcinoma. Analogous to colon cancer, genetic alteration in the metaplastic epithelium presumably leads to dysplasia . . .
Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a pre-malignant condition associated with esophageal adenocarcinoma. Analogous to colon cancer, genetic alteration in the metaplastic epithelium presumably leads to dysplasia and, ultimately, to cancerous changes. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an inducible enzyme that, in addition to its role in inflammatory conditions, also is overexpressed in colon polyps and cancers. Inhibition of this enzyme has led to regression of colonic neoplasms. These researchers evaluated COX-2 expression in human esophageal tissue and examined possible modulating factors.
Endoscopic mucosal biopsy specimens from 30 patients who had BE, 11 patients who had BE with dysplasia, and 5 patients who had esophageal adenocarcinoma were compared w…