Development of a diagnostic platform for identifying biomarkers in oesophageal adenocarcinoma

Oesophageal cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in Scotland and the sixth leading cause worldwide. Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the predominant histological subtype worldwide. However, between 1970 and 2000 there was a six-fold increase in the incidence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) in the USA and this is now the most common oesophageal cancer subtype with an increase mirrored in the UK, Europe, and Australia. The increased incidence in western societies is linked to acid reflux disease and the development of Barrett’s oesophagus. Due to the aggressive nature and late presentation of OAC, 70% of patients in the UK have advanced disease at presentation and can only be palliated. Our application aims to use cutting-edge technologies to develop a platform for the discovery of protein biomarkers produced in patients with OAC and to select those targets that are more highly expressed in cancers with associated metastases. We propose to then develop diagnostic assays using monoclonal antibodies-based tools that can detect biomarkers in the serum from patients. These advances will provide a proof-of-concept platform for developing better diagnostic assays that can be used to identify OAC earlier, to improve treatment of relapsed cancers, and which can be applied to have an impact on the management of other cancers of high unmet clinical need.