Significance of Fas and retinoblastoma protein expression during the progression of Barrett's metaplasia to adenocarcinoma

Background: Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a premalignant lesion characterized by replacement of normal squamous epithelium with columnar epithelium. Thi s lesion can progress to dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. Recently, the Fas re ceptor and retinoblastoma (Rb) protein have been described as important med iators of apoptosis and tumor suppression, respectively. This study was und ertaken to examine their expression during the progression of metaplasia to adenocarcinoma in BE. Methods: In a review of 56 adenocarcinomas arising in BE, the specimen bloc ks were examined using the immunohistochemical avidin-biotin-peroxidase com plex technique. For each specimen, areas of normal epithelium were compared with areas of metaplasia, dysplasia, or carcinoma (when present). Monoclon al mouse anti-human antibodies were used to identify Rb protein (Rb-Ab5, 1/ 50 dilution; Oncogene Science) and the 40-50-kDa cell membrane Fas protein (APO-1/Fas, 1/5 dilution; DAKO Corp.). Results: Loss of Rb staining was observed as the metaplasia progressed to d ysplasia and carcinoma, indicating accumulation of unstainable aberrant pro tein. Conversely, Fas protein staining was undetectable or weak in normal o r metaplastic epithelium, increasing in the areas of high-grade dysplasia a nd carcinoma. These differences were statistically significant (P < .001). Conclusions: The accumulation of abnormal Rb protein during the progression of Barrett's metaplasia to carcinoma leads to unsuppressed tumor growth. F as overexpression may represent a cellular attempt to balance the uncontrol led tumor proliferation by promoting apoptosis.