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Proton pump inhibitors and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs might prevent esophageal adenocarcinoma in patients with Barrett's esophagus, but there are limited data from clinical trials to support this concept. Dr Gary Falk and colleagues from Pennsylvania, USA conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial to assess the effects of the combination of aspirin and esomeprazole on tissue concentrations of prostaglandin E2 in patients with BE with no dysplasia or low-grade dysplasia. Participants were recruited through the multicenter Cancer Prevention Network and randomly assigned to groups that were given 40 mg esomeprazole twice daily in combination with an aspirin placebo once daily, with 81 mg aspirin once daily, or with 325 mg aspirin once daily for 28 days.  | | The absolute mean tissue concentration of prostaglandin E2 was reduced by 68 pg/mL in Group 1 | | Gastroenterology |
The team collected esophageal biopsy specimens before and after the intervention period to determine the absolute change in mean concentration of prostaglandin E2. Based on data from 114 patients, baseline characteristics were similar among groups. The team noted that the absolute mean tissue concentration of prostaglandin E2 was reduced by 68 pg/mL in Group 1, 124 pg/mL in Group 2, and 175 pg/mL in Group 3. Dr Falk's team commented, "In combination with esomeprazole, short-term administration of higher doses of aspirin, but not lower doses or no aspirin, significantly reduced tissue concentrations of prostaglandin E2 in patients with Barrett's esophagus with either no dysplasia or low-grade dysplasia." "These data support further evaluation of higher doses of aspirin and esomeprazole to prevent esophageal adenocarcinoma in these patients."
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