Fluorescence in situ hybridization of cytologic specimens from Barrett's esophagus: a pilot feasibility study.
BACKGROUND
Endoscopic brush cytology is a promising surveillance technique for Barrett's esophagus. However, there is a need for ancillary biomarkers to increase the sensitivity of cytology and to allow identification of patients at increased risk for disease progression. The aims of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of fluorescence in situ hybridization of endoscopic brush cytology specimens and to determine if there are specific chromosomal changes in cytologic specimens from patients with cancer that are not present in patients without dysplasia.


METHODS
Archival cytology slides from 16 patients with Barrett's esophagus were studied: 8 negative for dysplasia and 8 positive for adenocarcinoma. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to detect two alterations: HER-2 gene (17q11.2-q12) and 20q13.2 region amplification.


METHODS
For 7 of 8 adenocarcinoma cases, there was amplification/aneusomy of at least one of the two analyzed regions by fluorescence in situ hybridization. None of the samples negative for dysplasia were abnormal for either of the two genomic regions studied.


CONCLUSIONS
Fluorescence in situ hybridization is feasible by using routine Barrett's esophagus cytologic specimens. Differences in genomic makeup can be detected in cells from patients negative for dysplasia and in those with adenocarcinoma.
Center for Swallowing and Esophageal Disorders, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Gary W
GW
Falk
Marek
M
Skacel
Terry L
TL
Gramlich
Graham
G
Casey
John R
JR
Goldblum
Ray R
RR
Tubbs
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000473:pathology*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D018734:Genes, erbB-2; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D010865:Pilot Projects
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm