Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Diagnosis of Neoplasia in Barrett’s Esophagus using Vital-dye Enhanced Fluorescence Imaging
Published on: May 11, 2014
HER-2/neu: a differentiation marker in adenocarcinoma of the esophagus
E R Sauter1, S M Keller, S Erner
1Department of Surgery, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111.
Abstract:
Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is an aggressive malignancy which is increasing in frequency. The HER-2/neu oncogene product is a putative differentiation marker which exhibits decreased expression in colon carcinoma, while there is overexpression in breast and ovarian cancers. We analyzed the relationship of cell differentiation to HER-2/neu expression in esophageal adenocarcinoma using immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded material from 14 patients whose tissue contained normal, dysplastic, and malignant features. HER-2/neu expression was detected in 1 of 14 biopsy specimens and 2 of 9 resection specimens. The oncoprotein staining was greatest in normal tissue, less in dysplastic tissue, and not detected in malignant tissue. Our findings, similar to what is seen in the colon, suggest that the HER-2/neu oncogene product is a differentiation marker which is lost in esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Related Concept Videos
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Cadherins in Tissue Organization
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal
Barrett Esophagus-I: Introduction
This constant acid exposure transforms the esophagus's pink mucosal lining (stratified squamous epithelium) into a type of lining more similar...
Barrett Esophagus-II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
To diagnose Barrett's esophagus, healthcare providers often recommend an endoscopy for those showing symptoms of acid reflux. The procedure entails...
Cellular Adaptation IV: Dysplasia and Metaplasia

