CDX2 and LI-Cadherin Expression in Esophageal Mucosa: Use of Both Markers Can Facilitate the Histologic Diagnosis of Barrett’s Esophagus and Carcinoma

Background: Barrett’s mucosa is a risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma and should be detected at an early stage. CDX2 and liver—intestine (LI)-cadherin are intestine-specific markers.Aberrant CDX2 expression has been demonstrated in Barrett’s metaplasia, esophagitis, and intestinal metaplasia of the stomach. Methods: The relationship between CDX2 and LI-cadherin expression was investigated in normal gastroesophageal (n = 24) and in Barrett’s (n = 20) mucosa, in low-grade (n = 15) and high-grade (n = 13) intraepithelial neoplasia (IEN) as well as in esophageal adenocarcinoma (n = 16), using immunohistochemistry. Results: Nuclear positivity for CDX2 coupled with membranous expression of LI-cadherin was observed in about 70% of the epithelial cells of Barrett’s mucosa. The intensity of staining and the percentage of positive cells increased within the sequential steps of low-grade to high-grade IEN, whereas the normal cylindric epithelium lacked the expression of both. In adenocarcinoma, the expression ...