Gastrointestinal cancer: current screening strategies.

Abstract

The prevention and chemoprevention of cancer is based on identifying a pre-neoplastic lesion and altering the outcome by early intervention. Many of the gastrointestinal epithelial cancers are related to chronic inflammatory conditions for many years prior to cancer development. It is clear that treatment of the inflammatory condition can prevent and indeed reverse changes that predispose to cancer. This is most notable for helicobacter pylori infection of the stomach. Screening for Barrett's oesophagus and other conditions are more controversial and the results of large scale clinical trials are awaited. Nevertheless preventive strategies are highly attract health care interventions and are being actively considered.