The researchers also identified a cluster of four known cancer biomarkers, or genetic abnormalities, in people with Barrett's that significantly increases their risk of developing esophageal cancer.
The researchers found that those with three or more of the cancer biomarkers upon enrollment in the study who also used aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) had a 30% risk of esophageal cancer after 10 years, while those with the same biomarkers who did not use NSAIDs had a 79% risk of developing cancer within a decade of joining the study.
The researchers also found that Barrett's patients whose esophageal tissue had no such genetic abnormalities, or biomarkers, upon joining the study had a 12% risk of developing esophageal cancer after 10 years, whereas those with three or more of the abnormalities at baseline had a nearly 80% risk of developing such cancer within a decade.
Ultimately the researchers hope these biomarkers one day could be used to identify which Barrett's patients are most likely to develop esophageal cancer and therefore benefit from aggressive cancer surveillance via endoscopy and chemoprevention with NSAIDs.
“These findings ultimately may help us identify high-risk patients who truly require frequent surveillance and low-risk patients who need no or less-frequent surveillance,” said senior author Brian Reid.
“These findings also may help us determine which Barrett's patients may benefit most from a very cost-effective, noninvasive therapy in the form of aspirin or NSAIDs.”