Molecular Biology of Upper Gastrointestinal Neoplasms

Kim, Joon Sung; Kim, Byung Wook

doi:2012.12.2.75

Korean J Helicobacter Up Gastrointest Res > Volume 12(2); 2012 > Article

Review

The Korean Journal of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research 2012;12(2):75-81.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7704/kjhugr.2012.12.2.75 Published online June 10, 2012.

Molecular Biology of Upper Gastrointestinal Neoplasms

Joon Sung Kim, Byung Wook Kim

Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea. gastro@catholic.ac.kr

상부위장관 종양의 분자 생물학

김준성, 김병욱

가톨릭대학교 의과대학 내과학교실 인천성모병원 소화기내과

Abstract

Neoplasms of the upper gastrointestinal tract are related by location and have distinct clinical and molecular characteristics. Malignancies of the upper gastrointestinal tract are often diagnosed at an advanced stage and are generally associated with a poor patient prognosis. Improved understanding of the molecular biology of these tumors should provide new targets for diagnosis, chemoprevention, and therapy. This review focuses on the molecular biology of esophageal adenocarcinoma, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and gastric adenocarcinoma. Fundamental principles of carcinogenesis are discussed first, followed by the key similarities and differences of each cancer.

Key Words: Neoplasms; Upper gastrointestinal tract; Molecular biology