Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
An Immunofluorescent Method for Characterization of Barrett’s Esophagus Cells
Published on: July 20, 2014
Immunohistochemical assessment for Cdx2 expression in the Barrett metaplasia-dysplasia-adenocarcinoma sequence
Stephen Hayes1, Sajad Ahmed, Peter Clark
1Department of Histopathology, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, UK. stephen.hayes@srft.nhs.uk
Background:
Barrett oesophagus (BO) occurs as a consequence of prolonged gastro-oesophageal reflux and it may precede the development of oesophageal adenocarcinoma.
Aims:
The aim of this study was to accurately assess Cdx2 expression in the oesophageal metaplasia-dysplasia-adenocarcinoma sequence.
Method:
The expression of the transcription factor Cdx2 in Barrett metaplasia, high-grade glandular dysplasia and adenocarcinoma was investigated using immunohistochemistry.
Results:
The results confirmed previous immunohistochemistry and PCR-based investigations, indicating that Cdx2 was expressed by intestinal metaplasia in the oesophagus. In addition, upregulation followed by linear downregulation of Cdx2 expression through the oesophageal metaplasia-dysplasia-adenocarcinoma sequence was demonstrated for the first time.
Conclusion:
Such downregulation of Cdx2 expression could be in keeping with a role as a tumour suppressor gene, but a simpler explanation would be downregulation of a differentiation marker.
