COX-2 mRNA expression is significantly increased in acid-exposed compared to nonexposed squamous epithelium in gastroesophageal reflux disease.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the role of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and the development of Barrett's metaplasia. The objectives of this study were to further analyze COX-2 mRNA expression in patients with GERD compared to Barrett's esophagus (BE) and Barrett's cancer (BC). METHODS: Tissue samples from 110 patients with GERD (n = 43), BE (n = 20), and BC (n = 47) were obtained in routine upper GI endoscopy. Expression levels of COX-2 were measured by quantitative real-time reverse trancriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Also, 24-h pH monitoring was performed in all patients of the GERD study group and the DeMeester composite score was used to match COX-2 mRNA expression with the severity of acid exposure in the lower esophagus. RESULTS: COX-2 mRNA is progressively upregulated within the metaplasia-dysplasia-adenocarcinoma (MDA) sequence (p = 0.001). COX-2 levels of the squamous epithelium in the distal esophagus from patients with GERD and a pathologic mean DeMeester score (>14.72) were significantly higher than in patients with normal DeMeester scores (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: In summary our findings suggest that alterations in COX-2 mRNA expression occur independently of endoscopic or histologic signs of GERD in the acid-exposed squamous epithelium of the distal esophagus. However, this early COX-2 increase in GERD is further upregulated within the MDA sequence for yet unknown reasons.

Endoscopic full-thickness gastric resection using a flexible stapler device.

Endoluminal resection in the gastrointestinal tract is limited to resection of the lamina mucosa and lamina submucosa. The integrity of the gastric wall, represented by the lamina muscularis propria, must be maintained, because no safe endoscopic methods of ensuring adequate closure of the gastric wall are currently available. With the flexible stapling system SurgAssist (Power Medical Interventions ([Power Medical Interventions Deutschland GmbH, Hamburg, Germany]), for the first time, a stapling device is available that can be introduced transorally into the gastric area together with a gastroscope. After performing appropriate animal experiments, full-thickness inverted resection of a tumorous section of the gastric wall was done in two patients with early gastric adenocarcinoma. In both patients, the authors were able to resect full-thickness sections of the gastric wall with a diameter of approximately 4 x 4 cm. A gastroscope was used for control of the resected areas in the stomach; one patient required endoscopic hemostasis. The further postoperative course was uneventful in both patients. The method presented herein offers, for the first time, an exclusively transoral, surgical procedure for full-thickness resection of the gastric wall. In addition to early gastric adenocarcinoma with incipient infiltration of the submucosa, possible indications for this procedure include gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Topographical distribution of lymph node metastasis in adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The current discussion concerning the extent of resection in patients with adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction is focused beside the luminal extent of resection primarily on the value of lymphadenectomy. METHODOLOGY: In order to clarify whether spread of lymph node metastasis shows different pathways in adenocarcinomas of the gastroesophageal junction, a prospective, morphological study of the topographical distribution of lymph node metastasis was performed. Transthoracic en bloc esophagectomy with two-field lymphadenectomy (n = 13) or transhiatal esophagectomy with lymphadenectomy of the lower mediastinum and compartment I (lymph node No. 1-3) as well as II (n = 4) was performed in type I carcinoma and transhiatally extended gastrectomy with D2-lymphadenectomy and lymphadenectomy of the lower mediastinum in type II and III carcinoma (n = 33). RESULTS: In 50 specimens, 1730 lymph nodes were evaluated with regard to metastatic infiltration. We found metastases in the lymph nodes of the lower mediastinum in 24% of type I carcinoma, in 11% of type II carcinoma and in 13% of type III carcinoma, whereas the lymph nodes of the upper mediastinum were tumor free in all patients with transthoracic en bloc resection and 2-field lymphadenectomy (n = 13). In all cases with lymph node metastasis abdominal lymph nodes were affected independently from the localization of the primary tumor. CONCLUSIONS: The main direction of lymph node spread in adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction is towards the abdomen and the lower mediastinum. For precise tumor staging standardized lymphadenectomy of the lower mediastinum and the abdominal compartments I and II is essential.