title: HtrA1 expression associated with the occurrence and development of esophageal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purposes of this study were to measure both the mRNA and protein expression levels of high-temperature requirement serine peptidase 1 (HtrA1) in human esophageal cancer tissues and their adjacent, comparatively normal esophageal tissues.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression levels of HtrA1 mRNA and protein in both tissue types were measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) and Western blotting. The clinical and pathological correlation between HtrA1 expression levels and the occurrence and development of esophageal cancer was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression levels of HtrA1 mRNA and protein in esophageal carcinoma were significantly lower than the levels expressed in their adjacent normal esophageal tissue (p < 0.05). The more highly undifferentiated esophageal tumor cells expressed lower HtrA1 mRNA and protein expression levels (p < 0.05). Patients with tumors in early pathological stages (I-II) had significantly higher HtrA1 mRNA and protein expression levels than did patients with tumors in mid-to-late pathological stages (III-IV) (p < 0.05). Patients with positive lymph node metastasis had significantly lower HtrA1 mRNA and protein expression levels than did patients with lymph node-negative disease (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HtrA1 expression is associated with the occurrence and development of esophageal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No, 150, Haping Rd, Harbin, 150040, China. dryuyt@163.com
authors.forename: Youtao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Wenlong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Jingyan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Zhi-hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D000074289:High-Temperature Requirement A Serine Peptidase 1; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000074289:High-Temperature Requirement A Serine Peptidase 1; C474012:HTRA1 protein, human; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases