Mcm5 signal by sample group. Each box represents the interquartile range of the Mcm5 signal data for the corresponding sample group. The horizontal line inside the box represents the median signal. Any signal further than 1.5 times the interquartile range is considered as an outlying signal value and plotted separately. The dotted lines extend 1.5 times the interquartile range from the limits of the box.

ROC curve of immunofluorometric Mcm5 test. The jagged curve (solid line) is the nonparametric ROC curve. The diagonal line is a reference line. Area under curve=0.93 (95% CI=0.85–0.99). ROC curves for detection of bladder cancer (jagged dotted line) and prostate cancer (jagged dashed line) are shown for comparison.

Mcm2 protein expression in normal and neoplastic oesophagus. (A) Normal squamous epithelium showing Mcm2 expression restricted to the basal proliferative compartment. Onset of the differentiation programme is associated with downregulation of the MCM replication licensing factors. Mcm2 expression is undetectable in surface terminally differentiated cells. (B) Nondysplastic testinal-type ‘specialised’ Barrett's mucosa showing Mcm2 expression in cells in the proliferative zone beneath the mucosal surface. Mcm2 expression is markedly downregulated as cells execute their differentiation programme and migrate onto the mucosal surface. (C) Low- to high-grade squamous dysplasia showing high levels of Mcm2 expression. The arrest in differentiation is associated with persistant Mcm2 expression in surface layers. (D) Low-grade Barrett's dysplasia showing high levels of Mcm2 expression in upper crypts and surface layers. The failure of dysplastic cells to execute their differentiation programme (maturation arrest) is associated with persistent expression of the MCM replication licensing factors in upper crypt and surface epithelium. (E) Moderately to poorly differentiated SCC showing high levels of Mcm2 expression. Occasional viable Mcm2 negative cells are present showing morphological features of differentiation (keratinisation). (F) Poorly differentiated AdCa showing high levels of Mcm2 expression. Occasional viable Mcm2-negative cells are also present showing some features of glandular differentiation (mucin production).