Puccio I, et al. - Survivin and Bcl3 expression, as potential biomarkers for NF-κB activation, was determined along the esophageal metaplasia–dysplasia–adenocarcinoma sequence in non-dysplastic Barrett's oesophagus. NF-κB activation was associated with resistance to apoptosis via the expression of anti-apoptotic genes, such as survivin. This finding in turn demonstrated a progressive increase in expression throughout the esophageal metaplasia–dysplasia–adenocarcinoma sequence. The ability to avoid apoptosis appeared to underlie the persistence and malignant predisposition of Barrett's metaplasia.