Expressions Of Connexin26,32,43and E-cadherin In Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma And Their Clinical Significance

Objective: To research the expression and corelationship of Connexin26，32，43andE-cadherin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC) for investigating theirclinical significance in pathogenesis and progression of esophageal squamous cellcarcinoma..Methods:1. The genes Connexin26，32，43and E-cadherin were identified on genelevel by Reverse Transcription PCR, in14cases of ESCC and adjacent normal tissue.2.The genes Connexin26，32，43and E-cadherin were identified on protein levelimmunohistochemically, and analyzed their relationship with the genesis anddevelopment, biological behaviour and prognosis of ESCC.Results:1. The genes Connexin26，32，43and E-cadher mRNA in were amplified byRT-PCR in14cases of adjacent normal tissue and ESCC, and the positive expressionswere observed, which of Cx26mRNA was expression levels of0.8213,0.4023,significant differences were found between them（P＜0.01）. And which of Cx32mRNA was expression levels of0.8777,0.7626, significant differences were not foundbetween them（P＞0.05）. And which of Cx43mRNA was expression levels of0.9006,0.7667, significant differences were not found between them（P＞0.05）. And which ofE-cad mRNA was expression levels of1.0385,0.6890, significant differences werefound between them（P＜0.01）2. Immunohistochemical method was applied to detectthe expressions of Cx26，Cx32，Cx43and E-cad in78cases of ESCC,22cases ofnormal esophageal epithelium,16cases of severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ；Thepositive expression rate of Cx26，Cx32，Cx43and E-cad in ESCC were higher than thatof normal tissue and severe dysplasia/carcinoma in situ （P＜0.01）,the expression ofCx26、Cx32、Cx43was associated with the degree of differentiation, the depth ofinvasion,lymph node metastasis and clinical staging in ESCC（P＜0.05）, the expressionof E-cad was associated with the degree of differentiation, the depth of invasion,lymphnode metastasis and clinical staging in ESCC（P＜0.05）. And there was differently positive correlation between Cx26，Cx32，Cx43and E-cad （r=0.771，P＜0.01；r=0.595，P＜0.01；r=0.661，P＜0.01）.Conclusion:1. The positive expressions of Cx26，Cx32，Cx43and E-cad mRNA were obsvered innormal tissue and ESCC.And Cx26and E-cad mRNA were down-regulated,but Cx32and Cx43mRNA was not down-regulated in ESCC.2.The protein expressions of Cx26，Cx32，Cx43and E-cad were positive in normaltissue and severe dysplasia/carcinoma,but were down-regulated in ESCC.3. Cx26，Cx32，Cx43played an important role in invasion and metastasis,and could bean important marker for the prognosis of ESCC.4. E-cad played an important role in invasion and metastasis,and could be an importantmarker for the prognosis of ESCC.5. Cx26，Cx32，Cx43and E-cad which played crucial role in the regulation of cell cyclewere down-regulated in ESCC, there was positive correlation between them, led to thegenesis and development of ESCC together, and could be an index for the biologicalbehaviours of ESCC clinically.