TISSUE AUTOFLUORESCENCE AS AN INTERMEDIATE END-POINT IN NMBA-INDUCED ESOPHAGEAL CARCINOGENESIS

The capacity to identify subclinical neoplastic disease of the upper a erodigestive tract (UADT) using tissue autofluorescent spectroscopy wo uld significantly contribute to cancer screening. Rats received N-nitr osomethyl benzylamine (NMBA), a carcinogen shown to cause esophageal m alignancies. Following sacrifice at early weekly intervals, gross asse ssment of esophageal mucosa of NMBA-exposed rats was indistinguishable from saline-treated controls. Histopathologic evaluation, however, re vealed NMBA-induced preneoplastic changes in the epithelium. Concurren t with these changes, the NMBA-exposed rats demonstrated specific alte rations in autofluorescence. These results demonstrate that NMBA-induc ed esophageal premalignancy can be distinguished by autofluorescent pr operties. The capacity to detect alterations in autofluorescence may a llow more sensitive screening of UADT mucosa at risk for cancer develo pment.