New research is exploring low-cost, non-invasive ways to diagnose Barrett's esophagus, a condition associated with deadly esophageal cancer, to find effective strategies to identify patients with this condition. Barrett's esophagus is a condition where the lining along the esophagus (food pipe) becomes damaged from prolonged exposure to stomach acid, with lifestyle factors such as drinking and smoking contributing to it. According to research, between 2% and 4% of Australians live with Barrett's esophagus, most commonly in men over 40 years, with most being unaware of their diagnosis due to unassuming symptoms similar to regular heartburn.
"In most industrialized countries, including Australia, the incidence of esophageal cancers has increased fivefold in the past 40 years and almost all of these cancers arise from underlying Barrett's esophagus ," says lead author, Dr. Norma Bulamu from the College of Medicine and Public Health. "Barrett's esophagus is important clinically because those who have it are predisposed to esophageal cancer, which remains one of the deadliest forms of gastrointestinal cancer, with a five-year survival rate of about 20%.
"This is relatively low compared to other cancers, so hopefully the insights we gain from this research can be translated into better ways of identifying and treating Barrett's esophagus to reduce the risk of it developing into esophageal cancer and increasing patient survival." Diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus is usually made foll.