Ki-67在Barrett食管、重度反流性食管炎和食管腺癌中的表达和意义

背景：Barrett食管是一种食管腺癌癌前病变。Ki-67是一种能较准确地评估细胞增殖状态的抗原，在肿瘤进程中可能起重要作用。目的：研究Ki-67在Barrett食管、重度反流性食管炎和食管腺癌中的表达和意义。方法：应用免疫组化SP法测定59例Barrett食管、5例重度反流性食管炎、5例食管腺癌和10例正常食管黏膜组织中Ki-67的表达。结果：Ki-67在重度反流性食管炎中的阳性率为80．0％，Barrett食管阳性率为76．3％，与正常食管黏膜组织（20．0％）相比有显著差异（P〈0．05）：食管腺癌阳性率为100％。Ki-67的表达随Barrett食管肠化生程度的加重而增高（P〈0．05）；而不同长度（短段、长段）、肠化生黏膜形态（全周型、舌型和岛型）以及不同程度（轻度、中度）异型增生的Barrett食管，Ki-67的表达均无显著差异（P〉0．05）。结论：Ki-67在重度反流性食管炎和Barrett食管中表达增强，提示其在食管腺癌进程中起重要作用。     

Cdx2和MUC2在反流性食管炎、Barrett食管和食管腺癌中的表达

目的研究Cdx2和MUC2在反流性食管炎、Barrett食管和食管腺癌中表达，探讨3种食管黏膜疾病的内在关系。方法选取反流性食管炎30例、Barrett食管18例及食管腺癌25例作为研究对象，以正常食管上皮黏膜25例作为对照，采用免疫组化方法检测Cdx2和MUC2的表达，对结果进行统计分析。结果Cdx2和MUC2在反流性食管炎、Barrett食管及食管腺癌中的蛋白阳性表达率均较正常对照组明显增高（P〈0．05）。Cdx2在正常食管黏膜上皮中无表达，在反流性食管炎、Barrett食管及食管腺癌中的阳性表达率分别为26．7％、66．7％和28．0％，在Barrett食管中表达明显高于反流性食管炎（P〈0．05），亦明显高于食管腺癌（P〈0．05）；MUC2在正常食管黏膜上皮和反流性食管炎组织无表达，在Barrett食管及食管腺癌中的阳性表达率分别为61．1％和24．0％，Barrett食管中表达率明显高于食管腺癌（P〈0．05）。两者表达情况相似。结论Cdx2是肠上皮化生的始动因素，MUC2的表达是肠上皮化生的晚发事件。Cdx2和MUC2在反流性食管炎、Barrett食管和食管腺癌组织中的表达情况支持这3种食管黏膜疾病间有密切的关系。     

食管癌组织环氧化酶-2的表达与血管生成的关系

目的:探讨环氧化酶-2(COX-2)在食管癌组织的表达及其与肿瘤血管生成的关系．方法:免疫组化法检测食管鳞癌手术切除标本90例和癌旁正常黏膜34例中COX-2表达,采用抗CD34抗体标记微血管内皮细胞,计算微血管密度(MVD)．分析COX-2表达与MVD及其与食管癌主要临床病理特征的相关性．结果:食管癌组织COX-2阳性表达率为84．4％显著高于癌旁正常黏膜的20．6％(x2=45．47,P =0．00)．COX-2表达与肿瘤细胞分化程度、临床TNM分期和淋巴结转移密切相关,TNM分期中Ⅲ Ⅳ期的食管鳞癌组织中COX-2表达率为92．9％,显著高于Ⅰ Ⅱ期的70．6％(x2= 7．99,P=0．005)．高、中分化的食管鳞癌组织中COX-2表达率为92．9％,显著高于低分化的 70．6％(x2=7．99,P=0．005)．伴有淋巴结转移的食管鳞癌组织中COX-2表达率为94．3％,显著高于无淋巴结转移的70．3％(x2=9．61,P= 0．002)．食管癌组织MVD值为29．68±3．81, 显著高于癌旁正常黏膜的15．12±2．80(t= 20．28,P=0．00)．MVD与肿瘤的TNM分期和淋巴结转移密切相关,TNM分期中Ⅲ Ⅳ期的食管鳞癌组织中MVD值为31．46±3．52,显著高于Ⅰ Ⅱ期的26．74±2．06(t=-7．09,P=0．00)．伴有淋巴结转移的食管鳞癌组织中MVD为 31．72±3．43,显著高于无淋巴结转移的26．76 ±2．01(f=-7．90,P=0．00)．Spearman等级相关分析表明,MVD与COX-2表达呈显著正相关(r =0．607．P=0．00)．结论:COX-2异常表达及其诱导的血管生成在食管癌的侵袭和淋巴结转移中起重要作用．     

TGF-α和EGFR在Barrett食管和食管腺癌的表达

目的:研究Barrett食管和食管腺癌中TGF-α和 EGFR的表达意义．方法:采用免疫组化SABC法检测反流性食管炎13例、Barrett食管17例和食管腺癌11例中 TGF-α和EGFR的表达,并以30例正常食管黏膜为对照,运用免疫组化图像分析加以定量, 进行统计学的分析和比较．结果:TGF-α和EGFR在正常食管黏膜、反流性食管炎、Barrett食管和食管腺癌的表达逐渐增高,二者呈明显的正相关(r=0．951, P<0．01);TGF-α主要表达于细胞质,EGFR在正常食管黏膜和反流性食管炎表达于细胞膜, 而在Barrett食管非典型增生和食管腺癌,则可见细胞质和细胞核的明显表达．结论:TGF-α和EGFR在反流性食管炎、 Barrett食管和食管腺癌中表达逐渐增高并且相互作用,可能对Barrett食管和食管腺癌的发生、发展起一定的作用．     

COX-2在Barrett食管和食管腺癌中的表达及意义

目的:探讨环氧合酶-2(COX-2)及其催化产生的前列腺素E2(PGE2)与Barrett食管及食管腺癌的关系．方法:采用RT-PCR、免疫组化和RIA等方法,分别测定Barrett食管组(n=16),食管腺癌组(n=17)和正常对照组(n=20)食管黏膜中COX-2 mRNA的表达率、 COX-2蛋白在组织中的表达率和在细胞中的分布情况,以及PGE2在组织中的含量．结果:87．50％(14／16)的Barrett食管和88．24％(15／17) 的食管腺癌中COX-2 mRNA呈阳性表达,与对照组 25．00％(5／20)比较均有显著差异(P<0．01)．免疫组织化学研究显示:COX-2蛋白在Barrett食管上皮细胞和食管腺癌的癌细胞细胞质中呈阳性表达,81．25％(13／16) 的Barrett食管和76．47％(13／17)的食管腺癌中COX-2 蛋白呈阳性表达,与对照组20．00％(4／20)比较均有显著差异(P<0．01),但Barrett食管组和食管腺癌组 COX-2蛋白表达率之间无显著差异(P>0．05)．放射免疫分析测定显示:Barrett食管组(541．41±34．30 ng／g)和食管腺癌组(559．224±37．77 ng／g)中PGE2的含量与对照组(357．10±37．58 ng／g)相比均有显著差异 (P<0．05),Barrett食管组和食管腺癌组之间PGE2的含量无显著差异(P>0．05)．结论:COX-2及其mRNA蛋白在Barrett食管和食管腺癌中均呈高表达．PGE2的含量在Barrett食管和食管腺癌中均增高．COX-2及其催化产生的PGE2可能与 Barrett食管及食管腺癌的形成有关．     

食管鳞癌组织中IGF-1R、VEGF-C的表达变化及意义

目的观察食管鳞癌组织中的胰岛素样生长因子-1R（IGF．1R）、血管内皮生长因子C（VEGF—C）的表达变化,并探讨其意义。方法分别采用免疫组化法、免疫印迹法检测食管鳞癌和癌旁正常食管组织中的IGF-1R、VEGF—C。结果食管鳞癌组织中IGF-1R、VEGF—C阳性率分别为81．05％、67．37％,癌旁组织中分别为20％、5％,P均〈0．01;食管鳞癌组织中IGF—IR、VEGF．C蛋白条带灰度比值分别为0．58土0．03、0．43±0．05,癌旁组织中分别为0．43±0．02、0．31±0．04,P均〈0．05。IGF—IR、VEGF—C表达与食管鳞癌淋巴结转移、浸润深度有关（P均〈0．01）,二者表达呈正相关（r=0．29,P〈0．05）。结论食管鳞癌组织中IGF—IR、VEGF—C高表达,在食管鳞癌的发生发展及转移中有重要作用。     

RhoC基因mRNA在食管鳞癌中的表达及其意义

目的:探讨RhoC基因在食管鳞癌组织中的表达情况及其与食管鳞癌发生、发展的关系.方法:采用半定量RT-PCR和原位杂交方法检测62例食管鳞癌、31例癌旁不典型增生组织及62例正常食管黏膜组织中RhoC mRNA的相对表达量及细胞定位.结果:食管鳞癌组织中RhoC mRNA表达与癌的组织学分级、浸润深度及淋巴结转移密切相关(P <0.05); 在食管鳞癌癌变过程中,RT-PCR检测RhoC mRNA在癌组织、癌旁不典型增生组织及正常黏膜组织中的表达量依次降低, 分别为0.902±0.119、0.731±0.065、0.653±0.069, 组间比较有明显差异(H= 99.629, P <0.01); 原位杂交检测RhoC转录本主要位于细胞质中, 其在癌组织、癌旁不典型增生组织及正常黏膜组织中的表达率依次降低, 分别为80.6%(50/62)、32.3%(10/31)、21.0%(13/62), 组间比较有明显差异(χ2 =47.735, P <0.01), 两种方法检测的RhoC mRNA表达具有一致性.结论:RhoC mRNA在食管鳞癌组织中显著增加, 并与食管鳞癌生物学行为关系密切, 提示RhoC mRNA过表达与食管鳞癌的发生、发展有关, RhoC mRNA可作为食管鳞癌早期诊断和判断预后的辅助指标.     

Barrett食管基因差异表达谱初步探讨

病变组织差异表达基因的分析有助于寻找与疾病发生、发展和临床治疗有关的关键分子。目的：应用寡核苷酸芯片对Barrett食管与正常食管黏膜组织的差异表达基因进行高通量分析．以期筛选与Barrett食管发生、发展相关的分子标记物。方法：取6例Barrett食管患者病变食管黏膜和相应正常食管黏膜组织。Trizol一步法抽提总RNA．纯化后合成cRNA探针；探针荧光标记和纯化后，将两种组织探针分别与Agilent全基因组寡核苷酸芯片（含30968个基因组探针）进行杂交；获取芯片扫描图谱，以特征提取软件行定量分析、处理。结果：Barrett食管与正常食管黏膜组织的2倍差异表达（Ratio值≥2或≤0．5）基因中，上调基因142个，下调基因284个，涉及细胞周期相关基因、信号转导相关基因、黏蛋白相关基因、癌基因和抑癌基因、骨形态蛋白基因、凋亡抑制基因、bcl-2家族相关基因等。结论：高通量的基因芯片技术可筛选出大量Barrett食管相关基因，对这些相关基因的功能进行验证将有助于找到Barrett食管发生、发展的关键基因或通路。     

食管鳞癌组织VCAM-1和Survivin的表达及意义

目的探讨血管细胞黏附分子1（VCAM-1）和Survivin与食管鳞癌细胞发生、发展与转移的关系。方法采用免疫组化法检测24例正常食管黏膜、94例食管鳞癌组织中Survivin和VCAM-1的表达情况。结果VCAM-1和Survivin在癌组织中的表达率明显高于正常食管黏膜，其中VCAM-1表达与淋巴结转移、浸润深度和临床分期等因素有关（P均〈0．05）；Survivin表达与浸润深度有关（P〈0．01）；VCAM-1和Survivin在癌组织中的表达无相关性。结论VCAM-1和Survivin在食管鳞癌中高表达，二者在食管鳞癌的发生、发展过程中具有重要作用，可作为评价食管鳞癌生物学行为的指标。     

食管鳞癌组织中MMP-2和E-cadherin的表达及其意义

目的探讨食管鳞癌组织和食管鳞癌细胞系Eca109、EC9706中MMP-2和E—cadherin的表达及其与食管鳞癌临床病理特征的关系。方法应用免疫组化S-P法检测100例食管鳞癌组织及食管鳞癌细胞系Eca109、EC9706中MMP-2和E—cadherin蛋白的表达，应用RT—PCR技术检测两株细胞系中MMP-2mRNA和E—cadherinmR—NA的表达。结果食管鳞癌组织中MMP-2蛋白阳性率明显高于正常黏膜组织（P〈0．01），且与癌组织的分化程度、浸润深度、淋巴结转移密切相关（P〈0．05）；E—cadhefin蛋白在食管鳞癌组织中阳性率明显低于正常黏膜组织（P〈0．01），与癌组织分化程度、有无淋巴结转移呈负相关（P〈0．05），与浸润深度无明显相关性（P〉0．05）；MMP-2和E—cadherin在食管鳞癌中的表达呈负相关（P〈0．01）；细胞系中MMP-2mRNA和E—cadherinmRNA的表达有显著性差异（P〈0．01）。结论食管鳞癌组织中MMP-2呈高表达；E—cadherin呈低表达，二者对食管癌的发生、浸润转移具有相反的调节作用；联合检测其变化可更准确预测食管癌的恶性生物学行为。     

Lgr5, an intestinal stem cell marker,is abnormally expressed in Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma

Lgr5 (leucine‐rich‐repeat‐containing G‐protein‐coupled receptor 5), a recently discovered intestinal stem cell marker, is expressed in premalignant lesions including Barrett's esophagus (BE) and cancers including colon cancer, ovarian cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. It was also recently found to be expressed in tumor spheres prepared from colon cancer, suggesting that it will likely serve as a cancer stem cell marker. We sought to examine Lgr5 as a biomarker in BE‐associated neoplasia. Using standard immunohistochemistry, we performed immunostaining on 81 esophageal specimens (53 biopsy specimens and 28 surgical resections) representing BE, BE‐associated dysplasia, and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Each immunostain was scored based on intensity of immunostaining and percentage of positive cells. For 24 EAC cases, survival analysis was performed with expression scores and other clinicopathological variables. We found that Lgr5 expression was detected in 70% of BE cases and between 90 and 100% of advanced dysplastic lesions and EAC. The intensity of expression was significantly higher in high‐grade dysplasia and EAC than BE. In EAC, high Lgr5 expression scores (≥5) were associated with worse survival, independent of stage, age, and neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy (P = 0.03). Our findings suggest that Lgr5 has potential utility as a biomarker for BE‐associated dysplasia and EAC.     

趋化因子受体4在Barrett食管、食管腺癌和食管鳞状细胞癌中的表达及其意义

目的 了解趋化因子受体（CXCR4）在Barrett食管（BE）、食管腺癌和食管鳞状细胞癌中的表达,及其与病理分化程度、临床分期及淋巴结转移之间的关系.方法 应用免疫组织化学SP法对正常食管黏膜56例、BE 80例（其中伴多灶性异型增生22例）、食管腺癌25例和食管鳞状细胞癌组织48例标本中CXCR4的表达进行检测,并用仪器对表达结果进行图像分析,然后进行统计学分析.结果 （1）CXCR4在大部分BE、食管腺癌和食管鳞状细胞癌中呈阳性表达（其阳性率分别为78.8%、68.0%、83.3%）,3组间差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）,而在正常食管黏膜组中呈阴性或弱阳性表达（阳性率为39.3%）,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.01）;（2）CXCR4在BE、食管腺癌和食管鳞状细胞癌的表达与性别、年龄、病变发生位置均无关（P＞0.05）;（3）CXCR4在BE无异型增生和BE伴多灶性异型增生组织标本中的表达差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;（4）CXCR4在食管腺癌高分化较中-低分化者、有淋巴结转移较无淋巴结转移者中的表达均高（P＜0.05）;（5）CXCR4在食管鳞状细胞癌表达水平在肿瘤TNM分期的Ⅲ-Ⅳ级较Ⅰ-Ⅱ级者、有淋巴结转移较无淋巴结转移者中的表达均高（P＜0.05）,高分化较中-低分化则明显更高（P＜0.01）.结论 CXCR4的表达上调可能是食管腺癌和鳞癌的一个普遍特征,与食管病理组织学类型无关,其表达在BE阶段就已上调,并与食管腺癌和鳞癌的分化程度,有无淋巴结转移和TNM分期有一定相关性.CXCR4的表达对BE、食管腺癌和鳞癌的诊断具有指导价值,有可能成为肿瘤治疗的一个新靶点.     

Squamous cell carcinoma in Barrett's esophagus: field effect versus metastasis

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a premalignant condition with an increased risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Risk factors for EAC overlap with those for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but ESCC is surprisingly rare in BE. We report two cases of ESCC directly surrounded by BE. Both patients had a previous medical history of cancers, i.e., head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, and were using alcohol and smoking tobacco. Using immunohistochemistry for p63, CK5, CK7, and CDX2, it was confirmed that these carcinomas were pure squamous cell carcinomas, and not EACs or esophageal adenosquamous carcinomas arising from BE. Using TP53 mutation and loss of heterozygosity analysis, we established that the ESCCs in BE were not metastases of the previously diagnosed head and neck squamous cell carcinomas but de novo primary ESCCs. This study shows the strength of molecular analysis as an adjunct to the histopathologic diagnosis for distinguishing between metastases of prior cancers and primary cancers. Furthermore, these cases imply that presence of BE is not protective with regards to developing ESCC in the lower one third of the esophagus. We suggest that their ESCCs arose from islets of squamous epithelium in BE.     

The expression of p53, p16, cyclin D1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal dysplasia]

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: p53 is known to play a central role in sensing and signaling for the growth arrest and apoptosis in cells with DNA damage. Mutation of p53 is a frequent event in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). p16 protein binds to cyclin dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) inhibiting the ability of CDK4 to interact with cyclin D1, and stimulates the passage through the G1 phase of cell cycle. We observed the expression patterns and frequencies of p53, p16, and cyclin D1 in esophageal dysplasia and in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. METHODS: In 15 patients of ESCC, 5 patients of esophageal dysplasia and 5 volunteers with normal esophagus, tissue specimens were taken from esophageal lesions during the operation or endoscopic examination. We used specific monoclonal antibodies for p53 protein, p16(INK4 ) protein and cyclin D1. Immunoreactivity was scored. RESULTS: Mean age of all groups was 66 years old (range 47-93) and men to women ratio was 19:1. p53 mutation was observed in 87% (13/15) of ESCC, in 80% (4/5) of esophageal dysplasia, in 0% (0/5) of normal mucosa (p=0.001). p16 expression was seen in 40% (2/5) of esophageal dysplasia, 27% (4/15) of ESCC and 100% (5/5) of normal mucosa (p=0.016). Cyclin D1 expression was not significantly different among 20% (1/5) of esophageal dysplasia, 53% (8/15) of ESCC and 20% (1/5) of normal mucosa. Either the expression of p53 mutation or the loss of p16 occurred in 80% (4/5) of esophageal dysplasia and in 93% (14/15) of ESCC. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of p53 mutation and the loss of p16 might play a central role in the pathogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and contribute to the development of precancerous lesion such as dysplasia. In addition, there is a possibility that the mutations of p53 and p16 silencing would be the early events in ESCC development.     

Nicotinic cholinergic receptors in esophagus: Early alteration during carcinogenesis and prognostic value

AIM: To compare expression of nicotinic cholinergic receptors(CHRNs) in healthy and squamous cell carcinoma-affected esophagus and determine the prognostic value.METHODS: We performed RT-q PCR to measure the expression of CHRNs in 44 esophageal samples from healthy individuals and in matched normal surrounding mucosa, and in tumors from 28 patientsdiagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC). Next, we performed correlation analysis for the detected expression of these receptors with the habits and clinico-pathological characteristics of all study participants. In order to investigate the possible correlations between the expression of the different CHRN subunits in both healthy esophagus and tissues from ESCC patients, correlation matrices were generated. Subsequently, we evaluated whether the detected alterations in expression of the various CHRNs could precede histopathological modifications during the esophageal carcinogenic processes by using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Finally, we evaluated the impact of CHRNA5 and CHRNA7 expression on overall survival by using multivariate analysis.RESULTS: CHRNA3, CHRNA5, CHRNA7 and CHRNB4, but not CHRNA1, CHRNA4, CHRNA9 or CHRNA10, were found to be expressed in normal(healthy) esophageal mucosa. In ESCC, CHRNA5 and CHRNA7 were overexpressed as compared with patient-matched surrounding non-tumor mucosa(ESCC-adjacent mucosa; P 0.0001 and P = 0.0091, respectively). Positive correlations were observed between CHRNA3 and CHRNB4 expression in all samples analyzed. Additionally, CHRNB4 was found to be differentially expressed in the healthy esophagus and the normalappearing ESCC-adjacent mucosa, allowing for distinguishment between these tissues with a sensitivity of 75.86% and a specificity of 78.95%(P = 0.0002). Finally, CHRNA5 expression was identified as an independent prognostic factor in ESCC; patients with high CHRNA5 expression showed an increased overall survival, in comparison with those with low expression. The corresponding age- and tumor stage-adjusted hazard ratio was 0.2684(95%CI: 0.075-0.97, P = 0.0448).CONCLUSION: Expression of CHRNs is homogeneous along healthy esophagus and deregulated in ESCC, suggesting a pathogenic role for these receptors in ESCC development and progression.     

Prognostic significance of PTEN expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma from Linzhou City, a high incidence area of northern China

Decreased expression of tumor suppressor gene PTEN has been reported to be a poor prognostic indicator in a variety of human malignant tumors. The purpose of this study was to clarify the roles of PTEN in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and the prognostic significance of PTEN protein expression. Sixty-four patients from a high incidence area of northern China who underwent esophagectomy for ESCC between January 1998 and December 1999 enrolled in this study. PTEN expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 64 primary cancers and 64 paired normal esophageal epithelium tissues. The positive rate and staining grade of PTEN protein expression was lower in the esophageal cancers than in paired adjacent normal esophageal epithelium (P < 0.001). PTEN expression correlated with tumor differentiation (P = 0.001), tumor infiltration depth (P = 0.015) and pTNM staging (P = 0.048). The 5-year survival rate in patients with PTEN positive expression was 82% compared to 39% in patients with PTEN negative expression (P = 0.0019). Our results show that the expression of PTEN is decreased in ESCC compared to normal esophageal epithelium. Therefore, PTEN may play an important role in carcinogenesis and the progression of ESCC in a high incidence area of northern China, and PTEN could serve as an important factor to predict clinical outcome and prognosis.     

环氧合酶-2在Barrett食管及其相关疾病中的表达及意义

目的研究环氧合酶(COX)-2在Barrett食管(BE)及其相关疾病中的表达情况及其意义。方法应用免疫组化S-P法分别测定59例BE,5例食管腺癌,5例重度反流性食管炎(RE)患者,10例食管黏膜正常者组织中COX-2的表达情况。数据采用等级分组秩和检验。结果COX-2在BE中的阳性率为86.4%.在食管腺癌中为5/5例,与正常食管(3/10例)和RE(2/5例)比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。长段BE黏膜中COX-2表达(100.0%)较短段BE(80.9%)高(P<0.05)。不同类型BE (全周型、舌型和岛型)、不同程度肠化生(轻度、中度、重度)COX-2的表达差异均无统计学意义(P> 0.05)。结论COX-2在BE和腺癌组织中的表达显著增高,长段BE黏膜中COX-2的表达较短段BE为高。     

Expression and clinical significance of S100A2 and p63 in esophageal carcinoma

AIM： TO investigate the expression and clinical significance of S100A2 mRNA and protein, p63 protein in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma （ESCC） and their roles in carcinogenesis and progression of esophageal carcinoma （EC）. METHODS： Immunohistochemical staining （S-P method） for S100A2 and p63 protein were performed in 40 samples of ESCC and 40 samples of normal esophageal mucosa. In situ hybridization （ISH） was used to detect the expression of S100A2 mRNA. RESULTS： Expression of S100A2 mRNA in ESCC was positive in 77.5% of samples, which was lower than that in normal mucosa （100%） by ISH （P = 0.002）. The expression level of S100A2 mRNA was closely related to differentiation and and node-metastasis （P = 0.012, P = 0.008）. Expression of $100A2 protein was positive in 72.5% of ESCC samples and expression of p63 protein was positive in 37.5% of ESCC samples, and was lower than that in normal mucosa （100%） （P = 0.000）. The expression of S100A2 protein was correlated with the differentiation and node-metastasis （P = 0.007, P = 0.001）, but no relationship was observed between the expression of p63 protein and clinical pathological manifestations. S100A2 protein was positively correlated with the expression of S100A2 mRNA, and negatively associated with the expression of p63 protein （P = 0.000, P = 0.002）. CONCLUSION： S100A2 and p63 protein both play important roles in the carcinogenesis of ESCC. An investigation into the combined expression of S100A2 and p63 may be helpful in early diagnosis and in evaluating the prognosis of ESCC.     

Association of p53/p21 expression with cigarette smoking and prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients

factors,such as cigarette smoking,in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)in northeastern Iran,a region with a high incidence of ESCC.METHODS:The expression of p53 and p21 proteins was investigated immunohistochemically in tumor tissue from 80 ESCC patients and in 60 available paraffinembedded blocks of adjacent normal specimens from the cases,along with normal esophageal tissue from 80 healthy subjects.RESULTS:Positive expression of p53 protein was detected in 56.2%(45/80)of ESCC cases,and in none of the normal esophageal tissue of the control group(P<0.001).Furthermore,73.8%(59/80)of ESCC cases and 43.8%(35/80)of controls had positive expression of p21 protein(P<0.001).Cigarette smoking was significantly associated with p53 over-expression in ESCC cases(P=0.010,OR=3.64;95%CI:1.32-10.02).p21 over-expression was associated with poorer clinical outcome among the ESCC patients(P=0.009).CONCLUSION:Over-expression of p53 in association with cigarette smoking may play a critical role in ESCC carcinogenesis among this high-risk population of northeastern Iran.Furthermore,p21 over-expression was found to be associated with poor prognosis,specifically in the operable ESCC patients.