Expression and clinical significance of S100A2 and p63 in esophageal carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression and clinical significance of S100A2 mRNA and protein, p63 protein in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and their roles in carcinogenesis and progression of esophageal carcinoma (EC).


METHODS
Immunohistochemical staining (S-P method) for S100A2 and p63 protein were performed in 40 samples of ESCC and 40 samples of normal esophageal mucosa. In situ hybridization (ISH) was used to detect the expression of S100A2 mRNA.


RESULTS
Expression of S100A2 mRNA in ESCC was positive in 77.5% of samples, which was lower than that in normal mucosa (100%) by ISH (P = 0.002). The expression level of S100A2 mRNA was closely related to differentiation and and node-metastasis (P = 0.012, P = 0.008). Expression of S100A2 protein was positive in 72.5% of ESCC samples and expression of p63 protein was positive in 37.5% of ESCC samples, and was lower than that in normal mucosa (100%) (P = 0.000). The expression of S100A2 protein was correlated with the differentiation and node-metastasis (P = 0.007, P = 0.001), but no relationship was observed between the expression of p63 protein and clinical pathological manifestations. S100A2 protein was positively correlated with the expression of S100A2 mRNA, and negatively associated with the expression of p63 protein (P = 0.000, P = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
S100A2 and p63 protein both play important roles in the carcinogenesis of ESCC. An investigation into the combined expression of S100A2 and p63 may be helpful in early diagnosis and in evaluating the prognosis of ESCC.
Cao
Li-Yu
LY
Department of Pathology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China.
Yin
Yu
Y
Li
Hao
H
Jiang
Yan
Y
Zhang
Hong-Fu
HF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009418:S100 Proteins; C098997:S100A2 protein, human; C115051:TP63 protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins