To our knowledge this is the first comprehensive study demonstrating cytoplasmic accumulation of β-catenin, E-cadherin, α-catenin and cytoplasmic DVL as early as in dysplasia during the multi-step process of esophageal tumorigenesis suggesting these alterations in Wnt pathway components occur in early stages during the development of ESCC. This evidence concerns the gene CDH1 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.