Approved Research

Associations of genetic factors, healthy lifestyle behavior, and environmental pollution with esophageal diseases

Lay summary

Background: The incidence of esophageal diseases such as esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have experienced an evident increase over the past decades and become a public health problem worldwide. And the incidence of EAC has become more prevalent while the incidence of most other solid tumors has seen a decrease over the last decades. The development of esophageal diseases is usually a complex interaction between genetic risk and environmental factors. Environmental risk factors, unhealthy lifestyle factors, and genetic risk (i.e. polygenic risk score) has been widely associated with the risk of esophageal diseases.

Objective: In this study, we mainly want to comprehensively explore the interactions between genetic risk (polygenic risk scores) and environmental risk factors (including unhealthy lifestyle factors) for overall esophageal diseases.

Scientific Principles: This study will firstly investigate the associations of genetic variants, environmental factors, and lifestyles with esophageal disease risk. Then, this study will also explore the interactions between genetic and environmental factors.  At last, we plan to build a risk prediction model for esophageal disease with the identified risk factors.

Project duration: Data analysis and the publication of the findings will be completed within 36 months.

Public health impact: This project is expected to identify risk factors for esophageal diseases, and help identify individuals who are at higher risk of esophageal diseases to guide early prevention.