In order to model Barrett's Esophagus, EPC2-hTERT Myc cells alone or with Cdx1 were cultured in a 3-dimentional culture system (organotypic culture) previously utilized in our lab to mimic the microenvironment of the esophagus to study esophageal tumorigenesis [34]. The gene discussed is MYC; the disease is Barrett esophagus.