title: [Expressions of Notch signaling-associated proteins in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expressions and the role of Notch signaling-associated proteins in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients with ESCC were included in this study. The expressions of Notch signaling-associated protein (4 receptors: Notch1, Notch2, Notch3, Notch4; 5 ligands: Dll1, Dll3, Dll4, Jagged1, Jagged2) in cancer foci and adjacent normal tissues (5 cm distance to cancer) were examined by immunohistochemitry. Correlations of these proteins with cancer cell proliferation(Ki-67 index) and clinicopathologic features were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher levels of Notch1 and Notch2 were measured in cancer foci compared with adjacent tissues (all P<0.05). There were no differences in the expressions of Notch3, Dll1 and Dll3 (all P>0.05). Notch4, Dll4 and Jagged2 were not detected in both cancer foci and adjacent tissues. Notch1 expression was negatively correlated with lymph node metastasis and TNM staging (all P<0.01). Jagged 1 expression was positively correlated with TNM staging (P<0.01). Ki-67 index was obviously higher in cancer foci, while it was negatively correlated with Notch1 and Notch3 (all P<0.01) and positively correlated with Dll1 and Jagged 1 (all P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Notch signaling path may act as tumor suppressive gene in the pathogenesis of esophageal squamous cell cancer, in which Notch1 protein plays an important role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China. drchenlq@163.com.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yongfan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Longqi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D051881:Receptor, Notch1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051883:Receptor, Notch2 / Q000378:metabolism; D000071656:Receptor, Notch3; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: C497761:NOTCH1 protein, human; C497764:NOTCH2 protein, human; C499374:NOTCH3 protein, human; D051881:Receptor, Notch1; D051883:Receptor, Notch2; D000071656:Receptor, Notch3; D051880:Receptors, Notch