Expression Of Smo And Gli1 Proteins In Esophageal Squamous Cell Careinoma And Their Clinical Significance

Background and PurposeEsophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common malignant tumor, its incidence and mortality rate in China is the highest than the world's, the mortality rate ranks second among the digestive tract tumors. Although there are variety of inspection techniques on the early diagnosis of esophageal cacinoma, it is found progressed to the late most of the time, and has lost the opportunity to complete surgical resection. It seriously endanger the people's life, health and quality. Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway is the important signaling pathways by regulating the human cell proliferation and differentiation during embryonic development. Numerous studies show that the signaling pathway is abnormally activated in many human tumors, and promote tumor growth. Smo and Gli1 proteins are the two key proteins in the signaling pathway, currently it has been rarely reported about combined detection of these two proteins in the expression and correlation of ESCC. In order to discuss the development relationship of Smo, Gli1 and ESCC, We detected Smo and Glil proteins from ESCC, adjacent atypical hyperplasia and normal esophageal tissue by immunohistochemistry.Materials and Methods1. All the 60 cases of esophageal carcinoma surgical specimens were achieved from Anyang Cancer Hospital, Henan Province, China between 2009 and 2010, none of the patients received preoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy.2. Using PV9000 2-step immunohistochemical method to detected the expression of Smo protein in 60 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma,45 cases of adjacent atypical hyperplasia and 60 cases of normal esophageal tissue.3. Using PV9000 2-step immunohistochemical method to detected the expression of Glil protein in 60 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma,45 cases of adjacent atypical hyperplasia and 60 cases of normal esophageal tissue.4. SPSS 16.0 statistical application software processing, the Grade non-parametric rank-sum test and spearman rank correlation analysis was used, withα=0.05 for the significance test level.Results1. In esophageal carcinoma, atypical hyperplasia and normal esophageal tissue, the Smo protein positive expression rate were 88.3%(53/60),48.9%(22/45) and 31.7%(19/60) respectively, there was significant difference between the group (P<0.01). The analysis showed that Smo protein expression in esophageal carcinoma was higher strength than that in atypical hyperplasia and normal esophageal tissue (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the group of Smo protein expression between atypical hyperplasia and normal esophageal tissue (P>0.05).2. The strength of Smo protein expression in ESCC didn't associated with gender, age and tumor differentiation (P>0.05), but with the depth of tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis (P>0.05).3. In esophageal carcinoma, atypical hyperplasia and normal esophageal tissue, the Glil protein positive expression rate were 90.0%(54/60),40.0%(18/45) and 26.7%(16/60) respectively, there was significant difference between the group (P<0.01). The analysis showed that Gli1 protein expression in esophageal carcinoma was higher strength than that in atypical hyperplasia and normal esophageal tissue (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the group of Gli1 protein expression between atypical hyperplasia and normal esophageal tissue (P>0.05).4. The strength of Gli1 protein expression in ESCC didn't associated with gender, age and tumor differentiation (P>0.05), but with the depth of tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05).5. The expression of Smo protein and Gli1 protein in esophageal carcinoma was positive correlation and the coefficient was 0.432, P<0.05.Conclusion1. Smo not only participates in occurrence and development of esophageal carcinoma, but also in infiltration and metastasis of esophageal carcinoma.2. Gli1 not only participates in occurrence and development of esophageal carcinoma, but also in infiltration and metastasis of esophageal carcinoma.3. The high expression of Smo protein may increase the expression of Glil protein that it's downstream transcription factors, which leads to abnormal activation of Shh signaling pathway, and jointly promote the occurrence of ESCC development.