Differences and similarities of adenocarcinomas of the esophagus and esophagogastric junction

Abstract

During the last few decades there has been an alarming rise in the incidence of tumors originating at the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) [1]. The reason for this is unknown. Tumors of the EGJ can be categorized in two types of cancer divided according to their anatomical origin: distal esophageal adenocarcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia. However, due to their location, in the transitional zone of the esophagus and stomach, there is constant debate about the proper classification, staging, and management of these tumors. The etiology of distal esophageal adenocarcinoma is clearly related to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and the development of a Barrett's esophagus [2]. The etiology of adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia is less well understood. In the present paper, we will discuss the clinical characteristics and clinical management of esophagogastric tumors. Special attention will be given to differences and similarities of adenocarcinomas of the gastric cardia and distal esophagus.

Gastric cardiac carcinomas involving the esophagus are more adequately staged as gastric cancers by the 7th edition of the American Joint Commission on Cancer Staging System

“…[24][25][26] Consequently, these authors have advocated staging and treating these tumors as esophageal cancer. 25,27 Whether or not the patient population under study influenced our results is worth investigating, gastroesophageal junction cancer is common in China, and almost all tumors in this population are centered in the proximal stomach, in contrast to the vanishingly rare distal esophageal adenocarcinoma above the gastroesophageal junction. 2,11,[28][29][30] In a recent study from a high-volume medical center in China, Taiwan, the investigators did not find a single case of such cancer over a 20-year period.…”

RON(MST1R)is a novel prognostic marker and therapeutic target for gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma

“…Catenacci, 1 Gustavo Cervantes, 1 Soheil yala, 1 Erik a. nelson, 2 Essam El-Hashani, 1 Rajani Kanteti, 1 Mohamed El dinali, 1 Rifat Hasina, 1 Johannes Brägelmann, 1 Tanguy Seiwert, 1 Michele Sanicola, 3 Les Henderson, cooperative signaling may result in more aggressive phenotypes, (iii) and/or RON signaling may render resistance to MET inhibition (and vice versa). Here we show that RON is indeed highly expressed, and that MSP, RON, HGF and MET co-expression and co-activation is frequent and prognostic of survival in our GEC patient cohort.…”

Comparison of long-term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection and surgery for esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma

“…Adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) has shown an increasing trend over the last decades, particularly in Western countries [1,2]. In contrast, studies on the incidence of EGJ adenocarcinoma have found no evidence of changing trends in Korea [3,4].…”