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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 28, 2006; 12(48): 7859-7863
Published online Dec 28, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i48.7859
Overexpression of Ets-like protein 1 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
An-Guo Chen, Zai-Cheng Yu, Xin-Feng Yu, Wen-Feng Cao, Fang Ding, Zhi-Hua Liu
An-Guo Chen, Zai-Cheng Yu, Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, Anhui Province, China
Xin-Feng Yu, Wen-Feng Cao, Fang Ding, Zhi-Hua Liu, National Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100021, China
Supported by National Basic Research Program (973 Program), No. 2004CB518604
Correspondence to: Professor Zai-Cheng Yu, Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, Anhui Province, China. yuzaicheng@vip.sina.com
Telephone: +86-551-2922241 Fax: +86-551-3633742
Received: October 14, 2006
Revised: October 28, 2006
Accepted: November 27, 2006
Published online: December 28, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To study the expression pattern of Ets-like protein 1 (Elk-1) in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and to analyze its relationship with clinicopathologic parameters.

METHODS: The expression of Elk-1 in fresh esophageal cancer tissues and their corresponding normal mucosae was detected immunohistochemically (IHC) by means of tissue microarray (TMA). Its correlation with clinical characteristics was evaluated and analyzed by univariate analysis. All statistical analyses were performed by SPSS version 13.0.

RESULTS: Expression level of transcription factor Elk-1 increased in 78.5% (84/107) ESCC tissues compared with their matched normal esophageal epithelium. However, the expression of Elk-1 did not show any obvious correlation with degree of differentiation of esophageal carcinoma (in well-differentiated, moderately-differentiated and poorly-differentiated tumors, the increased expression was 7/8, 60/74, and 19/25, respectively, P > 0.05). Moreover, no obvious correlation was found with lymph node metastasis and depth of invasion.

CONCLUSION: Increased expression of transcription factor Elk-1 may play an important role in esophageal carcinogenesis.

Keywords: Ets-like protein 1; Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Immunohistochemistry; Tissue microarray