The origin of p40-negative and CDX2-positive primary squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach: case report.

The results of immunostaining for CK5/6 supported that this tumor was SCC, but the question why p63/p40 were negative and CDX2 was positive still remained. Concerning about the origin of p63/p40 and CDX2, it was suggested that the tumor cells were not derived from ectopic squamous epithelium but from intestinal metaplasia. And tumor cells looked like homogeneous and squamous metaplasia was not observed. These findings supported the idea that these tumor cells arose from stem cells in the intestinal metaplasia of the stomach.