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. The current chair is Dr. Thomas L. Vaughan, 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.
For more information, contact Michael Cook.