MOLECULAR PATHOGENESIS OF ADENOCARCINOMAS IN BARRETTS-ESOPHAGUS - ROLE OF THE TUMOR-SUPPRESSOR GENE P53

Mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene are involved in the molecul ar pathogenesis of adenocarcinomas in Barrett's esophagus in approxima tely 50% of patients. They occur at an early stage of tumor developmen t presumably prior to the development of invasive cancer in premaligna nt Barrett's epithelium. The majority of mutations are transition-type mutations, which is in striking contrast to esophageal squamous cell carcinomas and favors a different molecular pathogenesis for the two t ypes of esophageal cancer. A prospective long-term study in a substant ial number of patients with benign Barrett's esophagus is mandatory to finally elucidate the role of p53 mutations as a marker for the malig nant potential of Barrett's epithelium.