Figure 1

Immunohistochemical analysis and staining of MMP-1 in human BE and EAC. In comparison to BE without intraepithelial neoplasia (GERD) (1) a significantly (p < 0.05) increased expression of MMP-1 was observed in BE adjacent to EACs (2). Expression levels of MMP-1 were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in associated EACs (3) and EACs without BE (4). ESCC showed significantly (p < 0.05) decreased MMP-1 expression compared to EACs (5). Analysis refers to percentages of positivity of all counted cells. Grey lines show 95% confidence intervals. Statistically significant values from BE and ESCC to EACs are indicated with asterisks (a). Increased expression of MMP-1 (b) was observed in early BE (arrows). Adjacent normal tissue stained negative for MMP-1 (asterisk). Single staining of MMP-1 in BE was confirmed by immunohistochemical double staining (c), showing Cdx-2 (nuclear staining pattern, Fast red) and MMP-1 (cytoplasmic staining pattern, brown). Significantly increased MMP-1 expression was observed in adenocarcinomas compared to BE (d). Original magnification: top × 100, bottom × 200.