Dr Pedro Borralho is a Senior Scientist at the Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy (FFULisboa), University of Lisbon, Portugal. He graduated in Biotechnology Engineering in 2004 and performed his PhD studies on miRNAs in colon cancer at FFULisboa and the Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Division at the University of Minnesota Medical School, USA, completing his PhD in Pharmacy-Biochemistry in 2009. He has authored/co-authored 25 articles in international, peer-reviewed scientific journals. His research focuses on the exploration and modulation of molecular mechanisms underlying colon cancer onset, progression and therapeutic response, with a strong focus on miRNAs and their therapeutic modulation in cancer.
Blog
Postgraduate Course on the road from inflammation to cancer in the upper GI tract
January 08, 2015 | Pedro Borralho
During the Polish Society of Gastroenterology Congress in September 2014, EAGEN and EHMSG (formerly known as EHSG) held the joint Postgraduate Course "The road from inflammation to cancer in the upper GI tract." The aim of the course was to share knowledge and experience in this increasingly relevant field, with the participation of speakers from high-end specialty European centres, EAGEN and EHMSG. Recordings from each individual session of the course can now be found in the UEG Education library.
The Postgraduate Course was opened by Professor Jaroslaw Regula and was interactive in nature, including discussion time after the sessions and voting on questions posed by the speakers regarding the clinical cases presented.1 The relevance of inflammation leading to cancer was reinforced by Professor Peter Malfertheiner, who reported that infections leading to cancer are responsible for one out of every five cancer deaths worldwide.1
Session 1 began with an introductory lecture from Professor Tomica Milosavljević, who provided a general perspective on the inflammation and cancer axis.2 He started with the history of the field, addressing the two paradigms of the link between inflammation and cancer—chronic inflammation (extrinsic) and intratumoural inflammation (intrinsic)—as well as the molecular events and pathways regulating this axis. Professor Colm O’Morain delivered a case-based lecture, discussing therapeutic strategies to eradicate Helicobacter pylori and raising awareness of eosinophilic oesophagitis.3 Professor Lars Lundell adressed GORD, considering management and risk factors for progression, presenting and discussing two clinical cases.4 Next, Professor Heinz Hammer delivered a talk on food impaction.5 He guided the audience through the possible causes, criteria for endoscopic intervention and methods for removing impacted food. Eosinophilic oesophagitis and oesophageal eosinophilia were also discussed and an overview of treatment options provided.
Dr. Jochen Weigt, presenting a case of Barrett’s esophageal cancer and dysplasia, initiated session 2.6 His presentation addressed the rationale for staging, problems with staging procedures, and treatment options, raising the discussion of the true value of chromoendoscopy (acetic acid staining) versus dedicated white-light high-definition endoscopy. Next, Professor Juan Malagelada presented two cases of dyspepsia, addressing diagnostic approaches, prevalence and also the pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia.7 He also covered the associated abdominal manifestations and putative influencing factors, as well as therapy for functional dyspepsia. Dr. Tamara Matysiak-Budnik completed session 2, by presenting three clinical cases of gastric malignancy, underscoring the relevance of early detection and the importance of multimodality treatment.8 The Healthy Stomach Initiative, which is striving to spread preventive measures for greater stomach health throughout the world, was also promoted.
Session 3, the final session of the course, started with a lecture by Dr. Gunther Krejs on the topic of familial gastric cancer, providing clinical and practical advice.9 Next, Professor Malfertheiner delivered a lecture on “Helicobacter pylori and cancer: what studies are needed?”10 He indicated that we are currently still challenged by H. pylori and its consequences, highlighting the need for further studies. Professor Malfertheiner stressed that in both less developed and also in more developed regions of the world, H. pylori is the most frequent infectious agent ultimately leading to cancer, and remains as the most important risk factor for gastric cancer. The lecture also covered the general pathophysiology of gastric adenocarcinoma, atrophic gastritis and the assessment of risk of gastric cancer development, and the pathways from H. pylori infection to gastric cancer. Importantly, Professor Malfertheiner proposed several basic and clinical studies needed in this context, concluding with the message being promoted by the Healthy Stomach Initiative that what is needed is a healthy stomach that is H. pylori free.
Presentations at "The road from inflammation to cancer in the upper GI tract" EAGEN and EHMSG Postgraduate Course
- Malfertheiner P and Regula J. Welcome.
- Milosavljević T. Introductory lecture: the road from inflammation to cancer.
- O’Morain C. Case based lecture: patient with heartburn: history, endoscopy, medical/interventional therapy.
- Lundell L. Case based lecture: patient with severe reflux: history, diagnostic work-up, therapy.
- Hammer H. Case based lecture: patient with oesophageal food impaction.
- Weigt J. Case based lecture: Patient with Barrett oesophagus and cancer – history, endoscopy, medical/interventional therapy.
- Malagelada J. Case based lecture: Patient with dyspeptic symptoms – how does the stomach signal discomfort and disease. History, diagnosis, endoscopy, medical/interventional therapy.
- Matysiak-Budnik T. Case based lecture: Patients with gastric malignancies: history, diagnosis, endoscopy, medical/interventional therapy.
- Krejs G. Case based lecture: Familial gastric cancer – clinical and practical advices.
- Malfertheiner P. Helicobacter pylori and cancer: what studies are needed?
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