Studies On Function Of ECRG4, A Novel Esophageal Cancer Related Genes

Background and Objectives:Esophageal cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the world, and half of the new incidences of the world occur in China. But to date, the molecular basis underlying the transformation of normal esophageal epithelia to squamous carcinoma of the esophagus is not well understood. Identifying key esophageal cancer related genes and their function is still an important project in exploring the mechanism of esophageal cancer.ECRG4 (GeneBank AF 325503) is a novel candidate esophageal cancer suppressor gene cloned and identified in the Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, Cancer Institute. Previous studies have shown that the expression of ECRG4 is gradually down-regulated from normal esophageal epithelium, adjacent tissue to esophageal cancer. We found a CpG island in ECRG4 promoter and examined the possible relationship between the DNA hypermethylation and loss of ECRG4 gene expression. The results indicated that the inactivation of ECRG4 gene by hypermethylation in promoter region might be a frequent molecular event in ESCC tissues. Thus, ECRG4 gene might be an important candidate esophageal related suppressor gene and be involved in the carcinogenesis and development of the Esophageal cancer.