Detecting p53 immunoexpression in esophageal mucosa with exfoliative cytology in individuals at risk for squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of p53 expression in cytologic smear collected by the RS Balloon in high-risk individuals, and test its yield in the cytologic screening of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCCE).

Study Design: Asymptomatic individuals at risk for SCCE underwent esophageal exfoliative cytology with the RS Balloon immediately followed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsies of unstained areas after iodine mucosal staining of the esophagus. For each patient, cytologic expression of p53 was compared with the worst endoscopic biopsy diagnosis and the histologic expression of p53.