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. Here, CDH1 is linked to dysplasia.