Expression of EpCam and villin in Barrett's esophagus and in gastric cardia

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Anders, Mario | Sarbia, Mario | Grotzinger, Carsten | Meining, Alexander | Hofler, Heinz | Wiedenmann, Bertram | Rosch, Thomas

Affiliations: Department of Internal Medicine, Divisions of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Charité Medical School – Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany | Department of Pathology, Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin/ Sana Klinikum Lichtenberg, Berlin, Germany | Department of Internal Medicine II, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany | Institute of Pathology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany

Note: [] Corresponding author: Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow – Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany. Tel.: +49 30 450 553313; Fax: +49 30 450 553902; E-mail: mario.anders@charite.de

Abstract: In the current study we aimed to clarify the potential of EpCAM and villin as in vivo biomarkers for both Barrett esophagus (BE)-associated neoplasia and BE versus cardiac mucosa. Immunohistochemical staining in BE with various degrees of intraepithelial neoplasia (IN), Barrett carcinoma (BC) and in normal cardiac mucosa (CM) revealed a lack of EpCam and villin in squamous esophageal epithelium. All specimens of IN and BC showed EpCam with varying staining intensities. In 57% of CM samples a weak signal was detected; the remainder displayed strong EpCam expression. Villin was found in 97% of BE specimens and in all those with IN; 37% of BC and 75% of CM specimens were~also positive. We conclude that expression of EpCam and villin differs only between squamous epithelium and BE. Determination of these proteins does not allow discrimination between different degrees of neoplasia or between esophageal intestinal metaplasia and cardiac mucosa.

Keywords: Barrett, metaplasia, dysplasia, neoplasia, villin, EpCam, endoscopy, biomarker

Journal: Disease Markers, vol. 24, no. 6, pp. 287-292, 2008