Expression of FGFR3IIIc was enhanced in esophageal carcinoma cells diagnosed as stage IA (A, B, and C), stage IB (D and E), stage IIIA (F, G and H), but not in normal esophageal epithelium cells. FGFR3IIIc was not stained by anti-FGFR3IIIc antibody after pre-adsorption with the recombinant human FGFR3IIIc Fc chimera (H). Hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E stain, A, D, and F), FGFR3IIIc immunostaining (B, E, and G), and SCC-112 immunostaining (C). Strong staining for FGFR3IIIc was observed in esophageal carcinoma cells (B, E, and G: white arrows), and FGFR3IIIc expression was clearly restricted in the carcinoma area, with a clear border. Normal esophageal epithelium cells did not express FGFR3IIIc (B, E, and G: black arrows). FGFR3IIIc-positive cells were consistent with SCC-112-positive cells in the nuclei on consecutive sections (C: white arrows). Scale, 20 μm.