Robust markers of metaplasia in our study included cathepsin E (CTSE), which has been associated with gastric and colon cancers and previously shown to be upregulated in patients with BAR and EAC [56], as well as the anion/bicarbonate channel CFTR and PDZ-domain-containing mucins MUC17, MUC3A, and MUC12. This evidence concerns the gene CTSE and colonic neoplasm.