Overexpression of hERG1 in resected esophageal squamous cell carcinomas: a marker for poor prognosis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression and prognostic roles of human ether à go-go related gene (hERG1) potassium channels in resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.


METHODS
Expression of hERG1 protein and mRNA was detected by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription PCR in resected esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) and non-cancerous matched tissues, and the correlation was examined between expression of hERG1 protein and clinicopathological factors and prognosis of ESCC patients.


RESULTS
Frequency of positive expression of hERG1 protein was 77.9% (53/68), mRNA was 81.8% (9/11). hERG1 protein and mRNA were negatively expressed in all non-cancerous matched tissues. There was no significant correlation between hERG1 protein expression and lymph node metastases, depth of penetration, stage, and other clinicopathological factors. Completeness was 92.5% for hERG1-positive group and 92.0% for hERG1-negative group. ESCC patients with positive expression of hERG1 protein had a significantly shorter postoperative survival time than those with negative expression (median, 30 vs. 56 months). Survival rates at each time-point for hERG1-positive group were lower than that for hERG1-negative group, and hERG1 was identified as an independent prognostic factor of long-term survival by multivariate analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
In ESCC, hERG1 was aberrantly expressed and correlated with poor prognosis after surgery.
Ding
Xiang-Wu
XW
Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangfan Central Hospital, Xiangfan, People's Republic of China. xwding@hotmail.com
Luo
He-Sheng
HS
Luo
Bing
B
Xu
Dong-Qiang
DQ
Gao
Shan
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis