Expression profile comparison of African American and American Caucasian esophageal squamous epithelium from subjects with and without Barrett's Esophagus. Homo sapiens

Histologically normal biopsies of the esophageal squamous epithelium were collected from consented individuals of either African American (AA) or American Caucasion (Cau) ethnicity. Total RNA was extracted and used to generate Affymetrix expression array profiles. For each racial group collected samples were either controls (no history of BE or EAC) or those with a history of BE (Barrett's Esophagus) and/or EAC (esophageal adenocarcinoma). This allowed us to identify gene with tissue specific expression differences between the two racial groups, as well as those that differed between control and disease groups. Overall design: RNA was extracted from histologically normal squamous mucosa arising within the tubular esophagus above the gastrointestinal junction. Specimens were either collected as biopsies during upper GI endoscopy or as material collected at the time of tumor resection. Samples were processed for hybridization to Affymetrix Human Gene 2.1 ST arrays. Samples were collected from individuals self-identified as either AA or Cau, who had no history of BE or EAC (controls), or those diagnosed with BE and/or EAC. The array data includes 12 AA and 12 Cau controls, as well as 8 AA and 8 Cau diagnosed with BE/EAC.