ASCL2 and gastroesophageal reflux disease: This finding implied an essential role of ASCL2 in the early development of EAC. EAC carcinogenesis is a multistep process, starting from gastroesophageal reflux, progressing to BE [25], and alteration in the Wnt pathway is implicated in the carcinogenesis of EAC, similar to other intestinal cancers [12].