title: HES1 as an independent prognostic marker in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Notch signaling is one of the main involved pathways in cell differentiation and organogenesis, and its deregulation may lead to tumorigenesis. In this pathway, targeted to the CSL (CBF1, Suppressor of Hairless or Lag-1) complex, notch intracellular domain (NICD) releases corepressors and recruits MAML1 as coactivator triggering the activation of notch signaling transcription complex. Hairy enhance of split-1 (HES1) is one of the notch signaling target genes which is a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor acting as a proliferation stimulator through the suppression of cell cycle inhibitors such as p27 and p21.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we aimed to analyze the role of HES1 in the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of HES1 in fresh tumoral tissues and their margin normal samples were assessed in 50 ESCC patients by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen out of 50 cases (26 %) had HES1 underexpression, while HES1 overexpression was observed only in 4 (8 %) samples. HES1 underexpression was significantly correlated with tumor depth of invasion (P = 0.035).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although we have not observed any significant correlation between the HES1 expression and notch activation in ESCC, this study is the first report that elucidated the HES1 underexpression in ESCC and revealed its correlation with the invasiveness of ESCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Sciences and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shaghayegh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taleb
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Abbaszadegan
authors.forename: Meysam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moghbeli
authors.forename: Nasim Hayati
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Roudbari
authors.forename: Mohammad Mahdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Forghanifard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D005260:Female; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000072056:Transcription Factor HES-1
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000072056:Transcription Factor HES-1; C078493:HES1 protein, human