Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the p53 locus has been found in 75–80% of oesophageal adenocarcinomas (Gleeson et al, 1998; Morgan et al, 1998; Wu et al, 1998), as well as in 79% of high-grade dysplasia (HGD), 42% of low-grade dysplasia (LGD) and in 14% of Barrett's metaplastic tissue (Wu et al, 1998). This evidence concerns the gene TP53 and esophageal adenocarcinoma.