MCM4 expression in esophageal cancer from southern China and its clinical significance.
OBJECTIVE
MCM4 is a member of Minichromosome maintenance protein family. MCM2-7 proteins play an essential role in eukaryotic DNA replication and have been identified as components of DNA replication licensing factors. So far, no research on MCM4 has been reported in esophageal cancer. In this study, we detected via RT-PCR the expression status of MCM4 in esophageal cancer from southern China and therefore disclose the relationship between MCM4 and esophageal cancer.


RESULTS
65% (39/60) cases showed increased expression of MCM4 in the carcinomas when compared with normal esophageal epithelia in which no or low MCM4 expression was detected in most cases. Twenty of sixty cases (33%) showed increased expression of MCM4 in the adjacent epithelia. Furthermore, MCM4 expression in esophageal carcinomas was significantly higher than the one in the adjacent epithelia (chi square value is 12.037, P < 0.001). Significant difference for the expression status of MCM4 was found between the patients with histopathological stage T3 and stage T1 (chi square value = 4.038, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The increased expression of MCM4 might be associated with pathological staging of esophageal cancer. The alterations of MCM4 are possibly related to the earlier event of esophageal carcinogenesis. MCM4 is probably a valuable molecular marker involved in the development and/or genesis of esophageal cancer.
Huang
Xiao-Ping
XP
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou. xiaopinghuang2000@yahoo.com.cn
Rong
Tie-Hua
TH
Wu
Qiu-Liang
QL
Fu
Jian-Hua
JH
Yang
Hong
H
Zhao
Jin-Ming
JM
Fang
Yan
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002681:China; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064148:Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 4; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C099243:MCM4 protein, human; D064148:Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 4