Peanut Lectin Histochemistry of Barrett’s Esophagus

Barrett’s epithelium refers to the replacement of the normal stratifiedsquamous epithelium with columnar epithelial cells, possibly as a consequenceof chronic reflux of gastric content into the esophagus, and is thought to be apre-neoplastic disorder with the later development of esophageal adenocarcinoma.In this study, biopsy specimens from patients with Barrett’s esophaguswere examined with fluorescein-linked peanut lectin to determine if lectin reactivity,indicative of a previously reported colon cancer-associated mucin in colonicpolyps, was present in the columnar lined esophagus. In all of the patientsstudied, positive but variable labelling with this lectin was present, providingadditional evidence that Barrett’s epithelium represents a heterogeneous preneoplasticchange of the esophagus