Gastric and esophageal cancers are the 2nd and 6th most common causes of cancer death in the world, respectively, and together they kill over 1 million people each year. DCEG investigators' participation in UGI cancer research began with the Nutrition Intervention Trials (1985-1991) in Linxian, China, two randomized multivitamin/mineral supplementation trials in a population with some of the highest rates of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and gastric cardia cancer in the world. DCEG investigators have since expanded their research to include:
- Etiologic studies of ESCC (focused on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure) and gastric cancer (focused on the effects of H. pylori and gut hormones)
- Genetic studies (including genome-wide association studies) of esophageal and gastric cancer
- Development of an endoscopic early detection and treatment program for esophageal squamous dysplasia, the precursor of ESCC, which is now used to screen over 200,000 adults in China each year
- Development of new studies in high-risk populations in Iran and eastern and southern Africa
Selected studies include: