Emerging Biomarkers for Managing Barrett's Esophagus.
Abstract
Comparative analyses of normal esophageal tissue, Barrett's Esophagus (BE), and esophageal adenocarcinoma have identified distinctive molecular alterations in genomic DNA, epigenetics, non-coding RNA, and proteins that have shown promise as disease-specific biomarkers. Some of the best characterized and promising biomarkers for managing BE are multi-target esophageal cytology DNA assays based on methylated-DNA and immunohistochemical staining of Trefoil factor 3. Additional biomarkers including microRNA, measures of genomic instability, mixed-method panels, and other novel biomarkers (e.g. volatile organic compounds and saliva microbiome) remain in early development and will need further validation in large, prospective studies prior to clinical use.