Linda Liao

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NCI, DCEG, OEEB

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PLCO (Learn more about this study)

2011-0166

Nov 14, 2011

Discrimination between Risk Profiles for Esophageal Adenocarcinoma and Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma using Metabolomic Analysis

Esophageal cancer consists of two main histological types: esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Although both diseases arise from the same organ, differences in incidence trends, susceptible populations and risk factors indicate that they are etiologically distinct. The reasons for such a large variation in risk factors and disease incidence by histological type remain unclear. This suggests a need to identify biomarkers that may serve as a link to understanding the mechanisms through which established risk factors, such as obesity and smoking, affect risk of EAC and ESCC. Recently, advances in the development of metabolite profiling technologies, or metabolomics, have emerged as a way to comprehensively study metabolism, metabolites and other small molecules in tissues and body fluids. Applications of metabolomic platforms in distinguishing disease states, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, in clinical settings have shown promise in furthering our understanding of mechanisms of disease. The purpose of this proposal is to investigate whether a metabolic profile or specific metabolites, particularly those associated with well-established risk factors of EAC and ESCC, are associated with EAC and ESCC risk and would have potential as a prospective marker for either of the two major histological types of esophageal cancer. We propose to test this hypothesis in a pilot study of 123 esophageal squamous cell cancer cases, 93 esophageal adenocarcinoma cases and 216 controls using pre-diagnostic serum samples from two prospective cohort studies. The Alpha-Tocopherol Beta-Carotene Study (ATBC) and the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Trial (PLCO) are well suited populations for conducting this pilot study due to prospective collection of serum samples and extensive questionnaire and interview data. If the pilot study is successful, we plan to replicate the findings within other available cohorts.