Sucrase-Isomaltase Expression in Dysplasia Associated With Barrett's Esophagus and Chronic Gastritis

Aberrant cytoplasmic sucrase-isomaltase has been detected in colonic neoplasia, including dysplasia in ulcerative colitis. We investigated expression by immunostaining in 28 cases of Barrett's esophagus and 67 cases of chronic gastritis. Staining location (membrane or cytoplasmic) and percent positivity (< 1% = 0; 1-50% = 1+; > 50% = 2+) were record ed. Fifteen cases with Barrett's esophagus were negative for dysplasia, 1 was indefinite, and 12 were positive. All demonstrated surface membrane staining, while 2 of the 15 neg ative (1+) cases, 0 of the 1 indefinite case, and 11 of the 12 dysplastic (2+ in 7) cases revealed cytoplasmic positivity (P <. 001). In chronic gastritis (23 were negative, 5 were indefinite, and 39 were positive) all revealed surface membrane staining, whereas cyto plasmic positivity was present in 1 of 23 negative (1+) cases, 1 of 5 indefinite cases, and 37 of 39 dysplastic (2+ in 18) cases (P <. 001). In Barrett's esophagus and chronic gastri tis, cytoplasmic sucrase-isomaltase expression strongly correlates with the presence of dys plasia. Int J Surg Pathol 2(4).-281-286, 1995.