title: Analysis of HAX-1 gene expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the expression of HAX-1 mRNA and protein in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its relation with the prognosis of patients with ESCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of HAX-1 mRNA and protein were detected with quantitative real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemical method in 112 ESCC samples and 112 corresponding non-neoplastic samples. Survival curves were made with follow-up data. The relations of the prognosis with clinical and pathological characteristics were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression level of HAX-1 mRNA and the strong positive rate of HAX-1 protein were significantly higher in ESCC samples (0.527 ± 0.060 and 45.54%) than that in non-neoplastic samples (0.121 ± 0.017 and 0.00%), and in ESCC samples with lymph node metastasis (0.554 ± 0.054 and 71.11%) than that in ESCC samples without lymph node metastasis (0.509 ± 0.058 and 28.36%) (all P < 0.01). HAX-1 mRNA expression level was a risk factor of lymph node metastasis in patients with ESCC (P = 0.000). There were significant differences in survival curves between lymph node metastatic group and non-metastatic group (P = 0.000), and among groups of HAX-1 protein expression +, ++and +++(,P = 0.000); but no statistical significance between male patients and female patients (P = 0.119), and between ≥60 years old patients and <60 years old patients (P = 0.705). The level of HAX-1 mRNA (P = 0.000) and protein (P = 0.005) were risk factors of survival, but lymph node metastasis (P = 0.477) was not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is HAX-1 over-expression in ESCC tissue and HAX-1 mRNA level is a risk factor of lymph node metastasis. The level of HAX-1 mRNA and protein were risk factors of survival in patients with ESCC. HAX-1 may be a novel therapeutic target for ESCC treatment.
  The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/5130393079296037.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Wenqiao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xuan
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yunyun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ziming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Guoqiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016015:Logistic Models; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C104759:HAX1 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger