Methylated DNA Markers of Esophageal Squamous Cancer and Dysplasia: An International Study
Year: 2020
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Discovery of methylated DNA markers (MDM) of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has sparked interest in assessing these markers in tissue. We evaluated MDMs in ESCC from three geographically and ethnically distinct populations, and explored the feasibility of assaying MDMs from DNA obtained by swallowed balloon devices. Methods: MDMs were assayed in ESCC and normal tissues obtained from the populations of United States, Iran, and China, and from exfoliative cytology specimens obtained by balloons in a Chinese population. Areas under the receiver operating curve (AUC) of MDMs discriminating ESCC from normal tissues were calculated. Random forest prediction models were built, trained on U.S. cases and controls, and calibrated to U.S.-only controls (model 1) and three-country controls (model 2). Statistical tests were used to assess the relationship between dysplasia and MDM levels in balloons. Results: Extracted DNA from 333 ESCC and 322 normal tissues was analyzed, in addition to archival DNA from 98 balloons. For ESCC, model 1 validated in Iranian and Chinese tissues with AUCs of 0.90 and 0.87, and model 2 yielded AUCs of 0.99, 0.96, and 0.94 in tissues from the United States, Iran, and China, respectively. In Chinese balloons, MDMs showed a statistically significant trend of increasing levels with increasing grades of dysplasia (P < 0.004). Conclusions: MDMs accurately discriminate ESCC from normal esophagus in tissues obtained from high- and low-incidence countries. Preliminary data suggest that levels of MDMs assayed in DNA from swallowed balloon devices increase with dysplasia grade. Larger studies are needed to validate these results. Impact: MDMs coupled with minimally invasive collection methods have the potential for worldwide application in ESCC screening.
Authors: Yi Qin, William Taylor, William R. Bamlet, Adharsh Ravindran, Alessia Buglioni, Xiaoming Cao, Patrick H. Foote, Seth W. Slettedahl, Douglas W. Mahoney, Paul S. Albert, Sungduk Kim, Nan Hu, Philip R. Taylor, Arash Etemadi, Masoud Sotoudeh, Reza Malekzadeh, Christian C. Abnet, Thomas C. Smyrk, David Katzka, Mark D. Topazian, Sanford M. Dawsey, David Ahlquist, John B. Kisiel, Prasad G. Iyer
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: National Cancer Institute
OpenAlex ID: W3087018766