title: Interrelation between expression of matrix metalloproteinase 7 and beta-catenin in esophageal cancer.
abstract: Matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7) may play a key role in the progression of various human malignant tumors. Nuclear beta-catenin enhances the activating expression of MMP-7 genes by binding with the T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor family of transcription factors. We immunohistochemically examined the expression of MMP-7 and beta-catenin to better understand the significance of these factors in the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The entire coding region of beta-catenin exon 3 was also analyzed by direct sequencing in all cases. We found that MMP-7 was expressed in 7 (20.6%) of 34 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. There was a significant relationship between MMP-7 expression and tumor invasion into adjacent structures (P < 0.05). Aberrant nuclear expression of beta-catenin was found in 12 of 34 (35.3%) esophageal cancers and correlated with MMP-7 expression, the statistical difference being (P < 0.05). None of the 34 esophageal cancers examined carried mutations in beta-catenin exon 3. MMP-7 expression correlates with penetrating tumor progression in esophageal cancer. Nuclear translocation of beta-catenin, without mutations in beta-catenin exon 3, is associated with MMP-7 expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirohi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saeki
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Keishi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugimachi
authors.forename: Yasue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Takefumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohga
authors.forename: Keizo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugimachi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7