[Histogenesis of esophageal carcinoma]

Histopathologic and tritiated thymidine labelled autoradiography was carried out on 206 human esophageal biopsy specimens obtained in Linxian county, a high risk area of esophageal cancer in China. According to the histopathologic criteria, 6 cases showed atrophy, 151 normal, 31 hyperplasia, 14 dysplasia and 4 carcinoma. The index of labeled cells were: atrophy 3.3, normal 4.73, hyperplasia 4.9, dysplasia 5.6, carcinoma in situ 11.76 and invasive carcinoma 24.63. Significant increase in labeling was found in the esophageal mucosa with hyperplasia, dysplasia and carcinoma. There was a gradient of increased expansion in the basal layer as the proliferating cells progress from normal to hyperplasia, to dysplasia, and to carcinoma. These results show that the hyperplastic and dysplastic cells were fundamental phases of carcinomatous change in the esophageal mucosa. It shows a wide spectrum of cellular alterations in the course of malignant change and the close relationship between the morphological alterations and cell biology.