Use of a novel monoclonal antibody in diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus

A novel monoclonal antibody (MAbDAS-1), that specifically reacts with colon ic but not small intestinal epithelium, recognizes specialized columnar epi thelium (SCE) in the esophagus, The frequency of its reactivity in biopsy s pecimens of patients with endoscopically suspected Barrett's Esophagus (BE) is examined. Fifty-two biopsy specimens of the distal esophagus from 38 pa tients were tested by immunoperoxidase method using MAbDAS-1. Fifty-four sa mples of cardia-type mucosa biopsied from the stomach were used as controls . Results were compared with histology and Alcian blue/high iron diamine (A B/HID). Of the 52 specimens, 29 had glandular epithelium and the rest had o nly squamous epithelium. Ten were diagnosed to have SCE by histology. AU 10 samples reacted with MAbDAS-1 and with Alcian blue. Of the remaining 19 sp ecimens, five also reacted with MAbDAS-1, None of the squamous epithelium a nd cardia specimens reacted with MAbDAS-1. MAbDAS-1 may detect intestinal m etaplasia of the esophagus of colonic phenotype in the absence of histologi cal evidence of SCE.