In a study published recently by Nature Genetics, an international team of 34 scientists identified four genetic variants associated with an increased risk of developing esophageal cancer and its precursor, Barrett’s esophagus.

Although a growing body of evidence suggests that genetic factors play an important role in the development of esophageal cancer, this was the first that examined the genetic variations associated with adenocarcinoma. David Levine and Rui Zhang, both of UW Biostatistics, analyzed data from more than 8,000 people.