Expression of FHIT in esophageal epithelium and carcinoma: reference to drinking, smoking and multicentric carcinogenesis.
BACKGROUND
Both alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking are risk factors for esophageal cancer. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether the fragile histidine triad (FHIT) is their target gene in esophageal carcinogenesis as well as in multicentric carcinogenesis.


METHODS
The expression of FHIT was immunohistochemically examined in the squamous cell carcinoma as well as in the normal esophageal epithelium of 55 cases with esophageal cancer.


RESULTS
The median drinking indices (DIs) were 546 and 1092 (p<0.01) in cases with positive FHIT expression and those with a diminished expression in the esophageal epithelium, respectively. Furthermore, the incidences of intra-esophageal multiple cancer were 44% and 13%, respectively (p<0.05). Regarding the expression in cancer lesions, the median DIs were 280 and 721 in positive and diminished cases, respectively (p=0.081).


CONCLUSIONS
A loss of FHIT expression is associated not only with alcohol-induced esophageal carcinogenesis, but also with multicentric carcinogenesis.
Morita
Masaru
M
Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812- 8582, Japan. masarum@surg2.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Oyama
Tsunehiro
T
Nakata
Shoji
S
Ono
Kenji
K
Sugaya
Masakazu
M
Uramoto
Hidetaka
H
Yoshimatsu
Takashi
T
Hanagiri
Takeshi
T
Sugio
Kenji
K
Yasumoto
Kosei
K
D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000201:enzymology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099170:Bis(5'-adenosyl)triphosphatase
D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D000099170:Bis(5'-adenosyl)triphosphatase