title: SRC-3/AIB1 protein and gene amplification levels in human esophageal squamous cell carcinomas.
abstract: It has been suggested that the steroid receptor coactivatior-3 (SRC-3) gene, also known as AIB1, ACTR, RAC3, p/CIP and TRAM-1, located at 20q12, plays an oncogenic role in several types of human cancers. In this study, we examined the encoded protein expression of SRC-3 and its copy number in 221 human esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs). In this ESCC series, the overexpression and increased copy number of SRC-3 gene was detected in 46 and 13% of ESCCs, respectively. In addition, overexpression of SRC-3 was observed more frequently in primary ESCCs in late T stages (T3/T4) than that in earlier T1/T2 stages (P<0.05), but no significant association of expression of SRC-3 and status of lymph node metastases was observed (P>0.05). These results suggest that overexpression of SRC-3, caused by gene amplification/gain or other molecular mechanisms, might provide a selective advantage for the development and local invasion of certain subsets of ESCC. In addition, a significant correlation (P<0.05) of overexpression of SRC-3 with increased cell proliferation (through detection of Ki-67 expression) was observed in these ESCCs. These findings suggest a potential role of SRC-3 in the control of ESCC cell proliferation; such may be responsible, at least in part, for tumorigenesis and/or progression of ESCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Fang-Ping
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Jian-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Hui-Xi
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yong-Dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jiong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.forename: Zhi-Li
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Yi-Xin
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Xin-Yuan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Guan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D018628:Gene Dosage; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056921:Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 3; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases; C538866:NCOA3 protein, human; D056921:Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 3