High-grade dysplasia and superficial adenocarcinoma in Barrett's esophagus: histological mapping and expression of p53, p21 and Bcl-2 oncoproteins (original) (raw)

Abstract.

In order to characterize the early morphological and molecular stages of the neoplastic progression of Barrett's mucosa, we performed the entire histological examination of ten specimens of resected Barrett's esophagus with high-grade dysplasia or superficial adenocarcinoma. The expression of p53, p21 and Bcl-2 proteins was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The surface of Barrett's mucosa ranged from 2.6 cm2 to 31 cm2. Dysplasia and adenocarcinoma always developed in specialized mucosa and often occupied small surfaces. High-grade dysplasia was multifocal in eight cases. There was no preferential site for neoplastic transformation into high-grade dysplasia or superficial adenocarcinoma in Barrett's mucosa. Three superficial adenocarcinomas and four high-grade dysplasias overexpressed p53 protein. p21 protein was focally expressed in nondysplastic mucosa and overexpressed in two superficial adenocarcinomas, one high-grade dysplasia and two low-grade dysplasias. In most cases, the expression of p21 and p53 proteins was unrelated. Bcl-2 protein was detected in only one area of low-grade dysplasia. In our study, high-grade dysplasia and superficial adenocarcinoma appeared as tiny lesions, often multifocal for high-grade dysplasia confirming the need for an extensive sampling of Barrett's mucosa in the endoscopic surveillance. p53 dysfunction plays a major role in the progression from dysplasia to carcinoma in Barrett's esophagus and appears unrelated to p21 and Bcl-2 expression.

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  1. Service d'anatomie pathologique, Hôpital Saint Antoine, 184 rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine 75541, Paris Cedex 12, France, , , , ,
    Denis Chatelain & Jean-François Fléjou

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  1. Denis Chatelain
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  2. Jean-François Fléjou
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Chatelain, D., Fléjou, JF. High-grade dysplasia and superficial adenocarcinoma in Barrett's esophagus: histological mapping and expression of p53, p21 and Bcl-2 oncoproteins.Virchows Arch 442, 18–24 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-002-0674-1

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