[Gene expression profiles in squamous esophageal cancer tissues and adjacent almost normal tissues].
OBJECTIVE
To describe an esophageal cancer-specific expression profile and to identify genes that showed altered expression in squamous esophageal cancer tissues and their adjacent almost normal tissues.


METHODS
The cDNA probes were synthesized from polyA(+)RNA of cancer and adjacent almost normal tissues and were differentially hybridized with two identical Atlas human cDNA expression arrays membranes containing 588 known genes.


RESULTS
Autoradiographic analysis showed that of the 588 genes analyzed, 61 were found up-regulated in cancer, including cdc25B, Notch1, MMP, MET etc, and 22 down regulated in cancer, including cytokeratin4, BAD, IL-1 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST, IL-6, etc. Expression levels of genes that associated with the regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and metastasis altered most.


CONCLUSIONS
The results for the first time provide an esophageal cancer-specific expression profile, showing that complex alterations of gene expression underlie the development of malignant phenotype of esophageal cancer cells. In addition, this line of research can lead to the identification of EC-specific genes which may be helpful for the development of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets. The differential hybridization technique of Atlas Human cDNA expression array can be a useful method for describing the expression profiles of a tissue of cell interested.
Zhou
J
J
National Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Cellular Biology, Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100021 P. R. China. wumin@moon3.cicams.ac.cn
Liu
Z
Z
Wang
X
X
Zhou
C
C
Zhao
J
J
Zhang
R
R
Wu
M
M
D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans
D018076:DNA, Complementary