Expression Of Cdx2 And MUC2 In Reflux Esophagitis And Barrett's Esophagus And Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Background & Aims: Cdx2, an intestinal-specific transcription factor and a trigger of intestinal metaplasia, plays a key role in the development and maintenance of the intestinal epithelial phenotype. It has been reported that MUC2 is a major secretory mucin in normal intestinal mucosa . There is little detailed study of mucin expression in esophageal cancer. Intestinal type metaplasia is characterized by strong expression of MUC2 in goblet cells. There are few reports about the co-expression of Cdx2 and MUC2 in reflux esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinomas. In order to explore the connection among the three kinds of esophageal mucosa lesion, the expression of Cdx2 and MUC2 gene products were studied.Methods: Using immunohistochemistry, the expression of the Cdx2 and MUC2 were detected in the esophageal mucosa of 30 patients with reflux esophagitis, 18 patients with Barrett's esophagus, 25 patients with esophageal adenocarcinomas, and 25 normal esophageal mucosa as control subjects.Results: It was showed that the positivity rate and staining intensity of Cdx2 and MUC2 expressions in reflux esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma were significantly higher than those in normal esophageal mucosa ( P < 0. 005). Cdx2 was expressed in 26.7 % patients with reflux esophagitis, 66.7 % patients with Barrett's esophagus, and 28 % patients with esophageal adenocarcinomas, whereas, it was...