title: NF-kappaB signalling proteins p50/p105, p52/p100, RelA, and IKKepsilon are over-expressed in oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation has been recognised as an important mechanism in the development of cancers. However, expression status of NF-kappaB-related proteins in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues is largely unknown. In this study, we analysed expressions of NF-kappaB members (p50/105, p52/p100 and RelA) and IKKepsilon in ESCC tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed the expression of p50/105, p52/p100, RelA and IKKepsilon in 58 ESCC patients' tissues by immunohistochemistry using a tissue microarray (TMA) method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Normal oesophageal squamous cells expressed p50/105, p52/p100 and RelA in 5%, 79% and 10% of the tissues in cytoplasm, respectively; however, only p52/p100 was expressed in the nuclei (12%). The cancer tissues expressed p50/105, p52/p100 and RelA in 93%, 95% and 95% in cytoplasm and/or nuclei, respectively. Nuclear immunostainings of NF-kappaB members p50/105, p52/p100 and RelA, which are considered activation of NF-kappaB signalling, were observed in 34%, 60% and 26% of the cancers, respectively. IKKepsilon is expressed in cytoplasm in 50% of the normal squamous tissues and 84% of the cancer tissues. However, none of the expression of p50/105, p52/p100, RelA or IKKepsilon was associated with pathological characteristics, including differentiation, depth of invasion and TNM stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increased nuclear expressions of p50/105, p52/p100 and RelA as well as increased cytoplasmic expression of IKKepsilon in the ESCC tissues compared to the normal squamous cells suggested that over-expression of these proteins may be related to activation of the NF-kappaB pathway and might play a role in the development of ESCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi Ran
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Min Seop
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung Soo
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang Hyeok
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Nam Jin
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Sug Hyung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D006801:Humans; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D052002:NF-kappa B p50 Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D052003:NF-kappa B p52 Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D052002:NF-kappa B p50 Subunit; D052003:NF-kappa B p52 Subunit; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase