Gene expression profiling of Barrett's esophagus, adenocarcinoma, esophageal squamous epithelium and squamous cell carcinoma
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to generate and validate biomarkers to stratify patients with Barrett’s esophagus in terms of risk for developing cancer. We studied gene expression profiling in 69 frozen specimens, consisting of esophageal squamous epithelium from 19 healthy subjects, 20 specimens from patients with Barrett’s esophagus and 21 cases of esophageal adenocarcinoma, 9 cased of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by whole genome microarray analysis. Laser capture microdissection technique was applied to procure cells from defined regions of Barrett’s esophagus metaplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Microarray results were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in an independent cohort consisting of 42 cases. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry was performed using antibodies to two selected target molecules on a third independent cohort of 36 specimens, consisting of 36 cases. A total of 1176 genes were associated significantly with esophageal adenocarcinoma. The expression pattern of a 4 gene signature with the highest discriminant score based on linear discriminant analysis (GeneSpring GX10.2), was identified and validated by qRT-PCR in independent cohort. Gene expression profiling of 20 specimens of Barrett's esophagus patients, 21 specimens of adenocarcinoma patients and 19 biopsies from patients with normal esophageal squamous epithelium, 9 specimens of squamous cell carcinoma were studied.
Project description:The aim of this study is to generate and validate biomarkers to stratify patients with Barrett’s esophagus in terms of risk for developing cancer. We studied gene expression profiling in 69 frozen specimens, consisting of esophageal squamous epithelium from 19 healthy subjects, 20 specimens from patients with Barrett’s esophagus and 21 cases of esophageal adenocarcinoma, 9 cased of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by whole genome microarray analysis. Laser capture microdissection technique was applied to procure cells from defined regions of Barrett’s esophagus metaplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Microarray results were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in an independent cohort consisting of 42 cases. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry was performed using antibodies to two selected target molecules on a third independent cohort of 36 specimens, consisting of 36 cases. A total of 1176 genes were associated significantly with esophageal adenocarcinoma. The expression pattern of a 4 gene signature with the highest discriminant score based on linear discriminant analysis (GeneSpring GX10.2), was identified and validated by qRT-PCR in independent cohort.
Project description:Barrett’s esophagus confers significant risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. We have established the cloning of patient-matched stem cells of Barrett’s, gastric, and esophageal epithelium. Transplantation of transformed Barrett’s stem cells yielded tumors with hallmarks of esophageal adenocarcinoma, whereas transformed esophageal stem cells produced squamous cell carcinomas. These findings define a stem cell target in a precancerous lesion for preemptive therapies.
Project description:Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is a metaplastic precursor lesion of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA), the most rapidly increasing cancer in western societies. While the prevalence of BE is increasing, the vast majority of EA occurs in patients with undiagnosed BE. Thus, we sought to identify genes that are altered in BE compared to the normal mucosa of the esophagus, and which may be potential biomarkers for the development or diagnosis of BE. We performed gene expression analysis using HG-U133A Affymetrix chips on fresh frozen tissue samples of Barrett’s metaplasia and matched normal mucosa from squamous esophagus (NE) and gastric cardia (NC) in 43 BE patients.
Project description:Identifying biomarkers predictive for early esophageal cancer detection is critical considering the dismal survival rates. We investigated the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs), their utility as biomarkers, and their association with survival in esophageal cancer, including Barrett’s associated and sporadic adenocarcinoma (ADC), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). MiRNA expression was measured in cancerous and adjacent non-cancerous tissue pairs collected from 76 US and Japanese patients enrolled in 3 distinct cohorts. In ADC patients, miR-21, miR-194, miR-293, and miR-223 expression was elevated, while miR-375 and miR-203 expression was reduced in cancerous tissue compared to non-cancerous tissue. Increased levels of miR-192 and miR-194 were observed in Barrett’s associated compared to sporadic ADC cancerous tissue. In SCC patients, miR-21, miR-181b, miR-155, and miR-146b expression was elevated while miR-375 and miR-203 levels were reduced in cancerous tissue compared to non-cancerous tissue. Significantly, elevated mir-21 expression in non-cancerous tissue was strongly associated with worse prognosis, independent of nodal status and age. Sample classification using miRNA expression yielded accuracies as high as 86% for diagnosis and 78% for Barrett’s esophagus status. Our results highlight that miRNAs are deregulated in esophageal carcinogenesis and Barrett’s esophagus, and that their expression is associated with survival in cancer patients. Sample classification using miRNA expression demonstrates their potential utility as biomarkers for esophageal carcinoma diagnosis. MiRNA microarray expression was measured using miRNA microarray chips version 3 (Ohio State University) in 44 SCC cases and 32 ADC cases, of which 18 were also diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus.
Project description:Barrett’s esophagus confers significant risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. We have established the cloning of patient-matched stem cells of Barrett’s, gastric, and esophageal epithelium. Barrett's esophagus stem cells (BE), gastric cardia stem cells (GC) and normal esophagus stem cells (Eso) from 12 patients were cloned (For BE: 12 patients, GC: 12 patients and Eso: 2 patients). Keratin 5 positive and Keratin 7 positive cells were cloned from human fetal esophageal epithelium. Using air liquid interface culture system, stem cells were induced to differentiate into mature epithelial structures.
Project description:Barrett’s esophagus in gastrointestinal reflux patients constitutes a columnar epithelium with distal characteristics, prone to progress to esophageal adenocarcinoma. HOX genes are known mediators of position-dependent morphology. Here we show HOX collinearity in the adult gut while Barrett’s esophagus shows high HOXA13 expression in stem cells and their progeny. HOXA13 overexpression appears sufficient to explain both the phenotype (through downregulation of the epidermal differentiation complex) and the oncogenic potential of Barrett’s esophagus. Intriguingly, employing a mouse model that contains a reporter coupled to the HOXA13 promotor we identify single HOXA13-positive cells distally from the physiological esophagus, which is mirrored in human physiology, but increased in BE. Additionally, we observe that HOXA13 expression confers a competitive advantage to cells. We thus propose that Barrett’s esophagus and associated esophageal adenocarcinoma is the consequence of expansion of this gastro-esophageal HOXA13-expressing compartment following epithelial injury.
Project description:Barrett’s esophagus in gastrointestinal reflux patients constitutes a columnar epithelium with distal characteristics, prone to progress to esophageal adenocarcinoma. HOX genes are known mediators of position-dependent morphology. Here we show HOX collinearity in the adult gut while Barrett’s esophagus shows high HOXA13 expression in stem cells and their progeny. HOXA13 overexpression appears sufficient to explain both the phenotype (through downregulation of the epidermal differentiation complex) and the oncogenic potential of Barrett’s esophagus. Intriguingly, employing a mouse model that contains a reporter coupled to the HOXA13 promotor we identify single HOXA13-positive cells distally from the physiological esophagus, which is mirrored in human physiology, but increased in BE. Additionally, we observe that HOXA13 expression confers a competitive advantage to cells. We thus propose that Barrett’s esophagus and associated esophageal adenocarcinoma is the consequence of expansion of this gastro-esophageal HOXA13-expressing compartment following epithelial injury.
Project description:Barrett’s esophagus in gastrointestinal reflux patients constitutes a columnar epithelium with distal characteristics, prone to progress to esophageal adenocarcinoma. HOX genes are known mediators of position-dependent morphology. Here we show HOX collinearity in the adult gut while Barrett’s esophagus shows high HOXA13 expression in stem cells and their progeny. HOXA13 overexpression appears sufficient to explain both the phenotype (through downregulation of the epidermal differentiation complex) and the oncogenic potential of Barrett’s esophagus. Intriguingly, employing a mouse model that contains a reporter coupled to the HOXA13 promotor we identify single HOXA13-positive cells distally from the physiological esophagus, which is mirrored in human physiology, but increased in BE. Additionally, we observe that HOXA13 expression confers a competitive advantage to cells. We thus propose that Barrett’s esophagus and associated esophageal adenocarcinoma is the consequence of expansion of this gastro-esophageal HOXA13-expressing compartment following epithelial injury.
Project description:Barrett’s esophagus in gastrointestinal reflux patients constitutes a columnar epithelium with distal characteristics, prone to progress to esophageal adenocarcinoma. HOX genes are known mediators of position-dependent morphology. Here we show HOX collinearity in the adult gut while Barrett’s esophagus shows high HOXA13 expression in stem cells and their progeny. HOXA13 overexpression appears sufficient to explain both the phenotype (through downregulation of the epidermal differentiation complex) and the oncogenic potential of Barrett’s esophagus. Intriguingly, employing a mouse model that contains a reporter coupled to the HOXA13 promotor we identify single HOXA13-positive cells distally from the physiological esophagus, which is mirrored in human physiology, but increased in BE. Additionally, we observe that HOXA13 expression confers a competitive advantage to cells. We thus propose that Barrett’s esophagus and associated esophageal adenocarcinoma is the consequence of expansion of this gastro-esophageal HOXA13-expressing compartment following epithelial injury.
Project description:Barrett's esophagus is a common type of metaplasia and a precursor of esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, the cell states and lineage connections underlying the origin, maintenance, and progression of Barrett’s esophagus have not been resolved in humans. Here, we performed single-cell lineage tracing and transcriptional profiling of patient cells isolated from metaplastic and healthy tissue. Our analysis unexpectedly revealed that the squamous esophagus and gastric cardia contained cells belonging to common lineages that also included transitional basal progenitor cells; both esophageal and gastric tissues were also related to Barrett's esophagus. Barrett’s esophagus biopsies consisted of multiple clones, with lineages that contained all progenitor and differentiated cell types. In contrast, precancerous dysplastic lesions were initiated by the expansion of a single molecularly aberrant Barrett’s esophagus clone. Together, these findings provide a comprehensive view of the cell dynamics of Barrett's esophagus, linking cell states along the disease trajectory, from its origin to cancer.