Researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine have received a $9.5 million National Cancer Institute Program Project (P01) grant to investigate esophageal adenocarcinoma.
“People with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease can develop a precancerous condition called Barrett’s esophagus,” said Wael El-Rifai, MD, PhD, Associate Director of Basic Science at Sylvester, Co-Leader of the Tumor Biology Research Program, and principal investigator on the grant. “The cells in the esophagus adapt to protect themselves from the acid, and that increases the risk of developing esophageal cancer.”
“Although surgery can be curative, many patients with esophageal cancer present with advanced disease that has already extended beyond the hope for complete surgical cure,” said Omaida C. Velazquez, MD, FACS, Chair of the DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery at the Miller School and Surgeon-in-Chief at UHealth–University of Miami Health System.
“Innovation is needed toward advancing early detection and adjunct medications. Together these three critical arms of care, preventative, medical, and surgery, hold great promise to reduce or eliminate deaths from this cancer,” Dr. Velazquez said. “Dr. El-Rifai and his team are providing seminal contributions that will translate to state-of-the-art, personalized life-saving care.”
