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Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 14, 2007; 13(18): 2622-2625
Published online May 14, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i18.2622
Expression level of beta-catenin is associated with prognosis of esophageal carcinoma
Lv Ji, Xiu-Feng Cao, He-Ming Wang, Yi-Sheng Li, Bin Zhu, Jian Xiao, Dan Wang
Lv Ji, Xiu-Feng Cao, He-Ming Wang, Yi-Sheng Li, Bin Zhu, Jian Xiao, Dan Wang, Affillted Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Xiu-Feng Cao, Affillted Nanjing First Hospital Oncology Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changle Road, Nanjing 230032, Jiangsu Province,China. cxf551101@sina.com
Telephone: +86-25-52271474 Fax: +86-25-52269924
Received: January 16, 2007
Revised: January 18, 2007
Accepted: March 23, 2007
Published online: May 14, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To examine the association of beta-catenin with the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS: Beta-catenin mRNA expression level in 40 ESCC patients (28 males and 12 females, age range 38-82 years, median 60 years) was analyzed by real-time PCR. Beta-catenin mRNA expression levels in tumor cells were categorized as weaker (level 1) or equal to or stronger (level 2) than those in endothelial cells. We examined the correlation between the beta-catenin expression and the clinicopathological factors and prognosis of ESCC patients.

RESULTS: Level 2 beta-catenin expression was found in 29 patients. ESCC with level 2 expression had a higher rate of lymphnode metastasis (0.0776 ± 0.0369 vs 0.3413 ± 0.1803, P < 0.001) and deeper tumor invasion (0.0751 ± 0.0356 vs 0.3667 ± 0.1928, P < 0.001), and a poorer survival rate (P = 0.0024) than ESCC with level 1 expression.

CONCLUSION: Beta-catenin expression in ESCC is of great importance.

Keywords: Beta-catenin, mRNA expression level, Esophageal carcinoma, Prognosis