Differential expression of retinoic acid receptors and p53 protein in normal, premalignant, and malignant esophageal tissues.
OBJECTIVE
Esophageal cancer remains a significant health problem worldwide. The very low 5-year survival rates and rapid increase in the incidence of adenocarcinoma indicate the urgent need for early identification of and new approaches to the prevention and treatment of this cancer.


METHODS
To find biomarkers for early identification of the disease, we analyzed nuclear retinoic retinoid receptor mRNAs, p53 protein, and the proliferation marker Ki 67 in surgical specimens of normal, mildly, and severely dysplastic and malignant esophageal tissues.


RESULTS
Nuclear retinoid receptors (RAR-alpha, RAR-gamma, and RXR-alpha) were expressed in most (79%-100%) normal, dysplastic, and malignant esophageal mucosae, whereas expression of RAR-beta was progressively lost from normal esophagus to carcinoma (84%-54%). In contrast, expression of p53 protein and Ki 67 were dramatically increased in severely dysplastic and cancerous tissues of the esophagus (from 5% to 62%).


CONCLUSIONS
Loss of RAR-beta expression and accumulation of p53 and Ki 67 proteins may serve as biomarkers for esophageal cancer.
Zhang
W
W
Central Laboratory for Tumor Biology, Chinese Cancer Institute and Hospital, Beijing 100021, China.
Rashid
A
A
Wu
H
H
Xu
X C
XC
D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000737:chemistry*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D000072482:Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis*; D000097768:Retinoic Acid Receptor gamma
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D000072482:Retinoic Acid Receptor alpha; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D000097768:Retinoic Acid Receptor gamma; C000607071:RARA protein, human