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Hormonal and Reproductive Epidemiology Branch

Esophageal and Gastric Cancer

BEACON Photo

Barrett’s and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Consortium (BEACON)

The International Barrett’s and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Consortium (BEACON) was set-up in 2005 with support from the National Cancer Institute. BEACON is composed of over three dozen investigators with completed or ongoing epidemiologic studies of esophageal adenocarcinoma and/or Barrett’s esophagus. This open scientific forum now has more than 50 members who have research interests in the etiology and prevention of these diseases. NCI members include Drs. Wong-Ho Chow, Neal D Freedman, and Michael B Cook, while the current chair is Dr. Thomas L Vaughan who is a Professor of Epidemiology at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Analyses from the BEACON group so far have included reproductive factors (PMID: 20456945), cigarette smoking (PMID: 20716718), alcohol consumption (PMID: 21406386), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (submitted), and excess risk models (submitted) in relation to esophageal adenocarcinoma and esophagogastric junctional adenocarcinoma. Click here for Up-to-date information on BEACON activities.

Asian Barrett’s Consortium (ABC)

The Asian Barrett’s Consortium (ABC) was formed at a workshop hosted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in May 2008. Individuals from seven Asian nations came together to discuss this precursor metaplasia and its potential emergence in countries of the Eastern world. The ABC has led to the initiation of collaborative efforts by Eastern and Western researchers to determine the scope of BE and to stimulate research. Current DCEG members include Drs. Wong-Ho Chow and Michael B. Cook. The current chair of the ABC is Professor Ho Khek Yu (Chief, University Medicine Cluster, National University Health Systems, Singapore). The ABC group currently holds two annual meetings, one attached to the DDW and the other APDW. The group has published an international interobserver reliability study of the Prague C&M criteria (PMID: 20806154) and a review article of the current status of Barrett's esophagus research in Asia (PMID: 21155883). ABC members continue to collaborate on the generation of a multinational Barrett’s esophagus study.