[Expression of 39 HOX genes in esophageal cancer cell lines].
OBJECTIVE
To identify whether HOX genes can be used as markers of esophageal cancer.


METHODS
The expression of 39 HOX genes in esophageal cancer cell lines was examined. Specific primers were designed and RT- PCR was performed for each HOX gene members in above esophageal cancer cell lines, EC109 and CAES.


RESULTS
Fifteen out of 39 HOX genes were expressed in esophageal cancer cell lines. They were HOXA2, HOXA7, HOXA9, HOXA10, HOXA13, HOXB7, HOXB9, HOXC4, HOXC5, HOXC6, HOXC8, HOXC9, HOXD9, HOXD10, and HOXD13 respectively. Of them. Eleven genes were overlapped with the ones detected in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC) in our former study.


CONCLUSIONS
This study reconfirms our former that some HOX genes are deregulated expressed in ESCC, which provides more positive evidence for their roles in ESCC.
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University School of Oncology, Beijing Cancer Hospital, Beijing Institute for Cancer Research, Beijing 100036, China.
Zhen-dong
ZD
Gu
Xiao-mei
XM
Chen
Wei
W
Zhang
Jin
J
Gu
Ke-neng
KN
Chen
D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005801:Genes, Homeobox / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D005810:Multigene Family; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D012313:RNA