Expression of thymidylate synthase and glutathione-s-transferase pi in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of thymidylate synthase (TS) and glutathione-s-transferase pi (GST-pi) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and their association with the clinicopathologic characteristics.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical methods were used to detect the expression of TS and GST-pi in surgically resected formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissue sections from 102 patients (median age, 58 years) and in 28 normal esophageal mucosa (NEM) samples. The relationship between TS and GST-pi expression and clinicopathologic factors was examined.


RESULTS
The expression of TS and GST-pi was not statistically significantly associated with age of the patients, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, depth of invasion or tumor stage. TS staining was positive in 17.86% of normal esophageal mucosa and in 42.16% of ESCC samples (P < 0.05). The expression level of TS was not only significantly lower in well-differentiated (21.88%) than in poorly-differentiated carcinomas (51.43%, P < 0.05), but was also significantly higher in samples from male patients (46.51%) than from female patients (18.75%, P < 0.05). GST-pi was positively stained in 78.57% of normal esophageal mucosa and in 53.92% of ESCC samples (P < 0.05). The expression level of GST-pi was also significantly higher in well-differentiated carcinomas (65.63%) than in poorly-differentiated carcinomas (35.00%, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of TS and of GST-pi may be used as molecular markers for the characterization of ESCC. Poorly-differentiated cells showed increased expression of TS and reduced expression of GST-pi.
Huang
Jun-Xing
JX
Department of Oncology and Pathology, The People's Hospital of Taizhou, Taizhou Medical School, Yangzhou & Nantong University, Taizhou 225300, Jiangsu Province, China. huangjunxing@yahoo.com.cn
Li
Feng-Yue
FY
Xiao
Wei
W
Song
Zheng-Xiang
ZX
Qian
Rong-Yu
RY
Chen
Ping
P
Salminen
Eeva
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase; C496556:GSTP1 protein, human; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi