Cytokeratin 7 and 20 expression in intestinal metaplasia of the distal oesophagus: relationship to gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

Shearer, C., Going, J., Neilson, L., Mackay, C. and Stuart, R. (2005) Cytokeratin 7 and 20 expression in intestinal metaplasia of the distal oesophagus: relationship to gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Histopathology, 47(3), pp. 268-275. (doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2005.02219.x)

Abstract

Aims: Intestinal metaplasia and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease typify classical Barrett's oesophagus. Cytokeratin (CK) 7 and 20 phenotypes differentiate intestinal metaplasia in long segment Barrett's oesophagus from gastric intestinal metaplasia. This study examines the relationship between CK7/20 phenotypes and reflux disease in intestinal metaplasia of the distal oesophagus. Methods and results: Eighty patients with oesophageal pH studies included 30 with long segment Barrett's, 16 with short segment Barrett's and 34 with intestinal meatplasia of the gastro-oesophageal junction. Representative biopsy specimens were immunostained for CK7 and CK20. All 30 long segment patients demonstrated a Barrett's CK7/20 phenotype. All nine short segment patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux had a Barrett's CK7/20 phenotype, while four of seven short segment patients without reflux had a gastric CK7/20 phenotype (P = 0.019). Of 14 patients with intestinal metaplasia of the gastro-oesophageal junction and reflux, 10 (71%) had a Barrett's CK7/20 phenotype, compared with 11 (55%) of the 20 non-reflux patients. Conclusions: CK7/20 immunoreactivity for patients with intestinal metaplasia of the distal oesophagus without long segment Barrett's oesophagus suggests a heterogeneous group, with an association between Barrett's CK7/20 pattern and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in both short segment Barrett's and intestinal metaplasia of the gastro-oesophageal junction.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Going, Dr James
• Authors: Shearer, C., Going, J., Neilson, L., Mackay, C., and Stuart, R.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
• Journal Name: Histopathology
• ISSN: 0309-0167