Although this proteomic response is novel in the context of oesophageal cancer, apolipoprotein A-I has previously been reported as a serum marker for the detection of cancer, with a reduction in breast (Huang et al, 2006), pancreatic (Ehmann et al, 2007) and colorectal (Engwegen et al, 2006) cancers when compared with healthy controls. This evidence concerns the gene APOA1 and carcinoma of esophagus.