The Ki-67 index averaged 10 ± 4% in patients with normal gastric mucosa (n = 17), 21 ± 15% in patients with Barrett's esophagus (n = 21), and 38 ± 16% in patients with cancer (n = 19).Ki-67 expression was significantly different between all groups (P < 0.05).There was a strong linear correlation between Ki-67 expression and the metaplasia-adenocarcinoma sequence (P < 0.01).In patients with cancer, Ki-67 was not associated with clinical or surgical staging. Here, MKI67 is linked to esophageal adenocarcinoma.