Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Although many markers have been studied in esophageal adenocarcinomas, there is no marker currently available for clinical use. This study aimed to investigate the role of apoptosis in Barrett’s esophagus and adenocarcinoma carcinogenesis, determine whether there is a predictive value of apoptotic-necrotic markers M30 and M65, and examine Barrett’s mucosa and cancerous tissue by the immunohistochemical method.

METHODS

Esophageal tissue biopsy with an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed on participants, who were older than 18 years and newly diagnosed. There were 20 with Barrett’s esophagus, 20 esophageal cancer patients and 20 gastroesophageal reflux disease patients as a control group. Among the tissue samples taken, M30 and M65 were stained with immunohistochemical methods. The samples were examined to see whether there was a significant immunohistochemical difference among the groups in terms of M30 and M65 staining.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference among the groups in terms of M30 expression (p = 0.329). When compared to the control and the Barrett’s esophagus groups, M65 positivity was significantly higher in the adenocarcinoma group (p = 0.0001).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

There was no statistically significant difference in M30 expression among the groups in our study. M65 was found to be significantly high in esophageal adenocarcinoma. This suggests that necrosis is more dominant in the pathogenesis of esophageal adenocarcinoma. M65 can be used as a predictive marker in esophageal adenocarcinoma.