Strategies for molecular intervention in esophageal cancers and their precursor lesions

Molecular analysis of malignant transformation in Barrett's epithelium prov ides insight into the temporal nature and significance of individual geneti c events during multistep esophageal carcinogenesis. Potential targets for intervention in esophageal neoplasms include mutations involving retinoblas toma (Rb) and p53 tumor-suppressor pathways as well as tyrosine kinase casc ades, which are known to promote cell cycle progression. Data from recent e xperiments provide the preclinical rationale for novel: pharmacologic inter ventions in established esophageal cancers, and suggest strategies for chem oprevention in patients at risk for the development of these neoplasms.