title: Biological and Clinicopathological Significance of Cripto-1 Expression in the Progression of Human ESCC.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human Cripto-1, a member of the EGF-CFC family, is involved in embryonic development, embryonic stem cell maintenance, and tumor progression. It also participates in multiple cell signaling pathways including Wnt, Notch, and TGF-β. Remarkably, it is expressed in cancer stem cell (CSC) compartments, boosting tumor cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. Although Cripto-1 is overexpressed in a variety of human malignant tumors, its expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the possible oncogenic role of Cripto-1 in ESCC progression and elucidate its association with clinicopathological parameters in patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, Cripto-1 expression in 50 ESCC tissue samples was analyzed and compared to corresponding margin-normal esophageal tissues using quantitative real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cripto-1 was overexpressed in nearly 40% of ESCC samples compared with normal tissue samples. Significant correlations were observed between Cripto-1 expression and tumor differentiation grade, progression stage, and location (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that overexpression of Cripto-1 is involved in the development of ESCC. Further assessment will be necessary to determine the role of Cripto-1 cross talk in ESCC tumorigenesis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Genetics, Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Reihaneh Alsadat
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mahmoudian
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Genetics, Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Medical Genetics Research Center, Medical School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Abbaszadegan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Mahdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Forghanifard
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Genetics, Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Meysam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moghbeli
authors.affiliation: Department Biology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Faezeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moghbeli
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Jamshidkhan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chamani
authors.affiliation: Immunology Research Center, BuAli Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gholamin
keywords: Cancer stem cell; Cripto-1; ESCC; Expressional analysis; Real-time PCR