title: Quantitative analysis of heparanase gene expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Heparan sulfate proteoglycans, the main components of the extracellular matrix, are recognized as important components of signal transduction and play an important role in tumor progression. Heparanase (hep) degrades heparan sulfate proteoglycans, but the clinical importance of hep is unclear. In this study, we investigated the clinicopathologic importance of hep messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fresh tumors and noncancerous epithelia were obtained from 57 ESCC patients after esophagectomy. Expression levels of hep and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA were quantitatively analyzed by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Apoptotic cancer cells and microvessel density were evaluated immunohistochemically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The relative hep mRNA expression level (hep:glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase ratio) in ESCC was lower than in noncancerous tissue (P <.001). Tumor hep expression decreased according to tumor progression and correlated with the occurrence of apoptotic cancer cells, but not with tumor microvessel density. Moreover, low hep expression correlated with poor patient survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reduced hep mRNA expression might result in abnormal cell growth and correlate with ESCC progression.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Operating Room, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan. masaike@grape.med.tottori-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masahide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeguchi
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Ken-ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Shun-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsujitani
authors.forename: Nobuaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kaibara
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002455:Cell Division; D018450:Disease Progression; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013534:Survival; D000099175:Heparanase
chemical_list: D005966:Glucuronidase; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000099175:Heparanase