title: Abrogated expression of DEC1 during oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression is age- and family history-related and significantly associated with lymph node metastasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) causes the highest number of cancer deaths in some regions of Northern China. Previously, we narrowed down a critical region at 9q33-34, identified to be associated with tumour-suppressive function of deleted in oesophageal cancer 1 (DEC1) in oesophageal SCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  We generated DEC1 antibody and constructed tissue microarrays (TMAs) utilising tissue specimens from Henan, a high-risk region for oesophageal SCC, to investigate the importance of DEC1 expression in this cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tissue microarray immunohistochemical staining reveals significant loss of DEC1 from hyperplasia, to tumour, and to lymph node metastasis. In addition, the loss of DEC1 in tumour is age-dependent. Interestingly, there is significant abrogation of DEC1 expression in patients with a family history of oesophageal SCC. Deleted in oesophageal cancer 1 localises to both the cytoplasm and nucleus. The vesicular pattern of DEC1 in the cytoplasm appears to localise at the Golgi and Golgi-endoplasmic reticulum intermediate compartment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first TMA study to suggest a clinical association of DEC1 in lymph node metastatic oesophageal SCC, early onset oesophageal SCC and familial oesophageal SCC development. Subcellular localisation of DEC1 and its expression in oesophageal SCC tissues provide important insight for further deciphering the molecular mechanism of DEC1 in oesophageal SCC development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology and Center for Cancer Research, University of Hong Kong, Room L2-23, 2/F, Laboratory Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong (SAR) HKSAR, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: V C L
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: J M Y
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: R Z
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: J-L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Y P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Stanbridge
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C403671:DELEC1 protein, human; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins