The Role of SOX2 in Barrett's Esophagus Development and Progression to Esophageal Adenocarcinoma
Abstract
Barretts esophagus (BE) is a precancerous condition defined as replacement of the normal esophageal squamous epithelium with metaplastic columnar intestinal epithelium caused by chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease. Importantly, Barretts esophagus confers the strongest predisposition to developing esophageal adenocarcinoma. I hypothesize that the dorsal foregut transcription factor, SOX2, functions to maintain foregut squamous epithelial identity, and its loss is a critical step during Barrett's esophagus development and the progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma. I am investigating the molecular effects of SOX2 expression changes on Barrett's esophagus through a series of complementary experiments involving a novel foregut-specific inducible Sox2 knockout mouse model and a wholly novel biobank of human Barrett's esophagus derived organoids. Together, these experiments will elucidate novel molecular pathways involved in BE maintenance and may reveal novel therapeutic avenues to treat BE and prevent esophageal cancer. During the past year, I have continued to be productive by obtaining a Pilot/Feasibility Program Award through the Texas Medical Center DDC; giving presentations at FASEB GI Tract XX (oral presentation), 2022 DDRCC Directors Meeting, Wash U DDRCC GI Research Conference (Invited Speaker), CPTAC Steering Committee Meeting (Invited Speaker), AACR Annual Meeting 2023, Eastern Alliance DDRCC Exchange Program at Johns Hopkins DDRCC (Invited Speaker), and the Texas Medical Center DDC Annual Frontiers in Digestive Diseases Symposium; publishing a manuscript (PMID 36994101);and applying for an NIH PA-20-203 NIDDK Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (K08).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1212035
Entities
People
- Ramon U. Jin
Organizations
- Baylor College of Medicine