[MAL gene is down-regulated substantially in human esophageal cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the status of expression of MAL gene in human esophageal cancer.


METHODS
Expression of MAL gene was analyzed by Northern blot and/or RT-PCR in 41 pairs of human esophageal cancer tissues and matched adjacent normal mucosa, and three human esophageal cancer cell lines EC109, EC8712 and EC9706. MAL gene was analyzed by PCR in the three esophageal cancer cell lines.


RESULTS
MAL gene expression was down-regulated substantially or barely detectable in 93% (38/41) of human esophageal cancer tissues while expressed at high level in all matched adjacent normal esophageal mucosa. In all 3 human esophageal cancer cell lines, expression of MAL gene was not detectable. PCR analysis showed that the MAL gene fragment analyzed was intact in the three esophageal cancer cell lines.


CONCLUSIONS
Down-regulation of MAL gene expression is of frequent occurrence in human esophageal cancer.
Xu
Z
Z
National Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021.
Wang
M
M
Cai
Y
Y
D015536:Down-Regulation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D062806:Myelin and Lymphocyte-Associated Proteolipid Proteins; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011510:Proteolipids / Q000235:genetics*
C569026:MAL protein, human; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009185:Myelin Proteins; D062806:Myelin and Lymphocyte-Associated Proteolipid Proteins; D011510:Proteolipids