Interrelation between expression of matrix metalloproteinase 7 and beta-catenin in esophageal cancer.
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.
Saeki
Hirohi
H
Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
Tanaka
Shinji
S
Sugimachi
Keishi
K
Kimura
Yasue
Y
Miyazaki
Mitsuhiro
M
Ohga
Takefumi
T
Sugimachi
Keizo
K
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
C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7