[Expression of stathmin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its biological significance].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the expression of stathmin gene in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its correlation to oncogenesis of ESCC.


METHODS
Three ESCC cell lines, 75 ESCC samples, 25 tumor-adjacent samples and 30 normal esophageal mucosa samples were examined for the expression of stathmin mRNA and protein by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The correlations of stathmin expression to the clinicopathological features of the patients were analyzed.


RESULTS
Overexpression of stathmin mRNA and protein was found in 3 ESCC cell lines EC9706, Eca109 and EC-1, with the positive expression rates exceeding 80%. The positive rates of stathmin mRNA and protein in ESCC samples were 82.7% and 81.3%, respectively. There were significant differences in the relative contents of stathmin mRNA and protein among normal mucosa tissue, tumor-adjacent tissue and cancer tissue (chi2=19.204 and 25.03, respectively, P<0.01). In addition, a positive correlation was noted between stathmin mRNA and protein expressions in ESCC (r=0.413, P=0.000). The relative contents of stathmin mRNA and protein were significantly correlated to the differentiation degree, lymph node metastasis, invasive depth and TNM stage of ESCC (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of stathmin mRNA and protein is upregulated in ESCC with correlation to the differentiation degree, lymph node metastasis, invasive depth and TNM stage of ESCC, suggesting the possible involvement of stathmin in the oncogenesis of ESCC. Combined detection of stathmin mRNA and protein may prove valuable for early diagnosis and prognosis of ESCC, and stathmin may serve as a potential molecular target for biotherapy of the tumor.
Wang
Feng
F
Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, Tumor Center, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China. fengw010@163.com
Wang
Liu-xing
LX
He
Wei
W
Zhu
Li-nan
LN
Zhao
Pei-rong
PR
Fan
Qing-xia
QX
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D050777:Stathmin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
C493995:STMN1 protein, human; D050777:Stathmin