Some of the risk factors for GEA include:1,2
Age (the older you are, the more the likelihood of getting esophageal cancer)
Use of tobacco and alcohol
Barrett’s esophagus where the normal lining of the esophagus changes to resemble the lining of the intestine
Diet high in processed meat
Injury to the esophagus
Gender (men more likely than women)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Obesity
Physical inactivity
GERD and Barrett’s esophagus are the two main factors that can lead to GEA, while some of the other factors have yet to be proven unequivocally. Risk factors of BTC include primary sclerosing cholangitis where the bile ducts become blocked due to inflammation and scarring, chronic ulcerative colitis, cysts in the bile ducts, and infection with the Chinese liver fluke parasite.1-3 Further, due to various reasons, both GEA and BTC tend to be detected in advanced stages, which results in a poor prognosis.4
A biomarker is a biological molecule that is found in any of the body fluids or tissues and that is indicative of an abnormal condition/disease. It is sometimes used to identify the right treatment for a particular condition/disease or to gauge the body’s response to a particular treatment. In the context of GEA and BTC, the HER2 protein may be overexpressed or amplified in some patient tumors, and identification of HER2-positive tumors can help to design more effective anti-HER2 treatment regimens.1,2,5
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 or HER2 is a cell surface protein that is involved in the growth of normal cells. When the amounts of HER2 become high, it can cause uncontrolled cell growth. Tumors with unusually high levels of HER2, ie, those with an overexpression or amplification of HER2, are said to be HER2 positive.1,2
Source: Anti-HER2 Therapies. http://www.rkefford.com.au/anti-her2-therapies.html. Accessed May 16, 2024.
Anti-HER2 treatments include three drug classes. The first are antibodies, such as trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and zanidatamab that bind to the HER2 protein and affect its functioning. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as lapatinib block addition of a phosphate group to a protein called tyrosine kinase, which is responsible for signaling pathways that regulate cell growth and cell death. Finally, antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), such as trastuzumab deruxtecan consist of an antibody bound to a cytotoxic molecule via a linker molecule. The antibody binds to the HER2 protein on the cancer cell and the cytotoxic molecule causes damage to the cancer cell. There are other HER2 targeted treatments currently being studied.6,7
Symptoms are usually seen in the later course of the disease, but sometimes may appear sooner, leading to an early diagnosis. Symptoms may include jaundice, itching, light-colored or greasy stool, dark urine, abdominal pain, weight loss, loss of appetite, fever, and nausea/vomiting.8,9
This represents the percentage of people who are still alive 5 years after being diagnosed or after the start of their cancer treatment.10
Lifestyle changes, such as cessation of smoking, eating healthy food, remaining physically active, and maintaining a healthy weight may lower your chances of getting GEA and BTC. Additionally, avoiding developing hepatitis B and C, limiting alcohol, avoiding exposure to harmful chemicals may lower your chances of getting BTC while managing GERD and Barrett’s esophagus may lower your chances of getting GEA.11,12
All URLs accessed May 16, 2024, selected updates November 25, 2024.
