To search for further differences in the SPARC mRNA expression between the different stages of Barrett's progressive disease, we compared the median SPARC expression of metaplastic oesophagus (IM) tissues from patients with the maximum diagnosis of BE (BE group) with dysplastic Barrett's tissues from patients with adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus (EA group). The gene discussed is SPARC; the disease is Barrett esophagus.