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Blood Biomarkers For Early Diagnosis Of Oesophageal Cancer: A Systematic Review

Authors

Kunzmann A, McMenamin Ú, Spence A, Gray R, Murray L, Turkington R, Coleman H

Departments / Institutions

1Cancer Epidemiology and Health Services Research Group, Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. 2 Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen’s University Belfast,

Publication Date

Autumn 2017

Introduction

Oesophageal cancer prognosis remains poor due to the inability to detect the disease at an early stage. Non-tissue (serum, urinary or salivary) biomarkers potentially offer less invasive methods to aid early detection of oesophageal cancer.

Aims

We aimed to systematically review studies assessing the relationship between non-tissue biomarkers and subsequent development of oesophageal cancer.

Methods

Using terms for biomarkers and oesophageal cancer, MEDLINE, EMBASE and WEB OF SCIENCE were systematically searched for longitudinal studies, published until April 2016, which assessed the association between non-tissue biomarkers and subsequent oesophageal cancer risk. Random effects meta-analyses were used to calculate pooled relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), where possible.

Results

A total of 39 studies were included. Lower serum pepsinogen I concentrations were associated with an increased risk of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (n=3 studies, pooled RR=2.20, 95% CI: 1.31-3.70). However, the association for the pepsinogen I:II ratio was not statistically significant (n=3 studies, pooled RR=2.22, 95% CI: 0.77-6.40), with a large degree of heterogeneity observed (I2=68.0%). Higher serum glucose concentrations were associated with an increased risk of total oesophageal cancer (n=3 studies, pooled RR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.02-1.57). No association was observed for total cholesterol and total oesophageal cancer risk (n=3 studies, pooled RR=0.95, 95% CI: 0.58-1.54). Too few studies assessed other biomarkers for meta-analyses.

Conclusion

Serum pepsinogen I concentrations could aid early detection of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. More prospective studies are needed to determine the use of other non-tissue biomarkers in the early detection of oesophageal cancer.


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