The purpose of this study is to find out whether a protein, called mesothelin, found in the blood and tissue can be used as "marker" for esophageal cancer. Doctors at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center would like to compare levels of this protein in patients with abnormal cells or tissue of the esophageal to the levels of this protein in patients being treated for cancer for the esophagus.
Patients with T1 adenocarcinoma or suspected adenocarcinoma who are scheduled for a biopsy and mucosal resection (Group 1) Patients with a T1-2N0 adenocarcinoma or suspected adenocarcinoma who are scheduled to undergo and esophagectomy (Group 2) Patients with T2N1 and T3N0-1 adenocarcinoma or suspected adenocarcinoma who are scheduled to undergo endoscopy and biopsy and/or endoscopic ultrasound and biopsy prior to pre-operative chemo-radiotherapy and have baseline and surgical tissue available for staining (Group 3)
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients <18 years of age Patients unfit medically for endoscopy surveillance and therapy Patients unfit medically for esophagectomy Patients with stage IV esophageal adenocarcinoma Patients previously treated with chemo-radiotherapy for their esophageal cancer Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus Patients who have a history of cancer within 3 years or have a concurrent cancer.
