title: RhoC, vascular endothelial growth factor and microvascular density in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of Ras homolog (Rho)C, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CD105 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical streptavidin-biotin- peroxidase methods were used to detect expression of RhoC mRNA and protein, and VEGF protein in 62 cases with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, 31 cases with adjacent atypical hyperplastic tissues, and 62 cases with normal esophageal mucosa. CD105 antibody labeling was used to measure microvascular density. Expression levels were compared according to clinicopathologic and patient parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of RhoC mRNA showed a positive correlation with the protein level in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, as well as with VEGF protein levels. RhoC mRNA expression was mainly located within the cytoplasm of the tumor cells, appearing as blue to purple particles by in situ hybridization. The differences in RhoC mRNA expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, adjacent atypical hyperplasia and normal esophageal mucosa were significant (P < 0.05). The relative expression of RhoC mRNA in cancer tissues with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than in the tissues without lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). VEGF protein expression was consistent with microvascular density (t = 25.52, P < 0.05). Positive expression of VEGF protein in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma of different histologic gradings did not differ significantly. Positive expression of VEGF protein in carcinoma tissues with deep infiltration was significantly higher than in tissues with only superficial infiltration (P < 0.05). The positive expression of VEGF protein in cancer tissues with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than in the tissues without lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RhoC protein may upregulate VEGF expression, thereby promoting tumor angiogenesis. RhoC mRNA and protein expression was correlated with metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Zhi-Hua Zhao, Yan Tian, Jian-Pin Yang, Jun Zhou, Kui-Sheng Chen, Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Zhi-Hua Zhao, Yan Tian, Jian-Pin Yang, Jun Zhou, Kui-Sheng Chen, Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Zhi-Hua Zhao, Yan Tian, Jian-Pin Yang, Jun Zhou, Kui-Sheng Chen, Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Pin
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Zhi-Hua Zhao, Yan Tian, Jian-Pin Yang, Jun Zhou, Kui-Sheng Chen, Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Zhi-Hua Zhao, Yan Tian, Jian-Pin Yang, Jun Zhou, Kui-Sheng Chen, Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China.
authors.forename: Kui-Sheng
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000071063:Endoglin; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D000075024:rhoC GTP-Binding Protein
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C064206:ENG protein, human; D000071063:Endoglin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C066690:RHOC protein, human; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins; D000075024:rhoC GTP-Binding Protein
keywords: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Gene silencing; Ras homolog C; Vascular endothelial growth factor