| Abstract: | OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical value of cytological γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase (γ‐GT) staining in the reduction of the morbidity and mortality of esophageal cancer in an area of China that has a high incidence of esophageal cancer. METHODS: The results of pathology, cytological examination with γ‐GT staining in 451 patients with severe dysplasia were analyzed and followed‐up for 3 years. RESULTS: At the 1‐year follow‐up, 17 of 231 patients with positive γ‐GT staining (7.4%) had developed esophageal cancer, but no cancer was detected in 95 patients with negative γ‐GT staining. Among 215 patients who were followed‐up for 3 years, the risk of developing cancer in γ‐GT staining positive patients with grade I or II severe dysplasia was 5.7% and 14.3%, respectively. However, esophageal cancer was not found in patients with negative γ‐GT staining or in patients with positive γ‐GT staining who were younger than 40 years. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that γ‐GT staining can be used as a cancer risk marker of esophageal epithelial dysplasia. Esophageal dysplasia needs to be further categorized according to γ‐GT staining for esophageal cancer prevention, and intervention is required for γ‐GT staining positive patients with severe dysplasia in order to increase the cost–benefit ratio of esophageal cancer prevention. |
