title: Expression of EpCam and villin in Barrett's esophagus and in gastric cardia.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Divisions of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Charité Medical School - Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany. mario.anders@charite.de
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anders
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarbia
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grotzinger
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meining
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hofler
authors.forename: Bertram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wiedenmann
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rosch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002299:Cardia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018307:Neoplasms, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C499379:EPCAM protein, human; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; C026615:villin