Differential expression and bioinformatics analysis of SLP-2 gene in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Clinical significance of expression of OX40 and SLP-2 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

AIM: To investigate the expression of OX40 and SLP-2 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESSC) and to analyze their correlation with clinicopathological status of ESSC patients.

METHODS: The expression of OX40 and SLP-2 was detected by immunohistochemistry in 94 ESSC tissues, 31 adjacent atypical hyperplasia tissues and 3 adjacent normal esophageal tissues. The correlation between OX40 and SLP-2 expression and clinicopathological features of ESSC was analyzed.

RESULTS: OX40 and SLP-2 expression in ESCC (54.3%, 50.0%) was significantly higher than that in atypical hyperplasia tissue and histologically normal esophageal mucosa (3.2%, 6.5%) (χ² = 26.374, 20.988, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the expression of OX40 and SLP-2 was significantly associated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. OX40 expression was correlated with SLP-2 expression in ESCC.

CONCLUSION: The high expression of OX40 and SLP-2 in ESCC may directly influence tumor invasiveness and metastasis. OX40 expression is correlated with SLP-2 expression in ESCC.

Effect of siRNA-mediated SLP-2 silencing on tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis in nude mice bearing gastric tumor xenografts

AIM: To investigate the effect of siRNA-mediated SLP-2 silencing on tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis in nude mice bearing gastric tumor xenografts.

METHODS: Chemically modified SLP-2 siRNA was designed and constructed. A tumor-bearing model was developed by inoculation of gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells into BALB/c nude mice subcutaneously. All mice were randomized into three groups: a SLP-2 siRNA-transfected group, a negative control group and a blank control group. Chemically modified SLP-2 siRNA and a negative control siRNA were injected into tumor xenografts of the SLP-2 siRNA transfected group and negative control group, respectively, while the blank control group only received an injection of equal volume of saline. Tumor volume was recorded and the apoptosis index was observed. The expression of SLP-2 mRNA and protein in tumor tissue was measured by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: Compared to the two control groups, tumor volume was significantly decreased in the SLP-2 siRNA transfected group (P = 0.009, 0.003), and the reduced rate of tumor growth was 26.74% and 30.15%. The number of apoptotic cells and apoptosis index showed no significant differences between the SLP-2 siRNA transfected group and the two control groups (both P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: SiRNA-mediated SLP-2 silencing inhibits tumor cell growth but has no significant effect on tumor cell apoptosis in tumor xenografts.

Significance of SLP-2 expression in gastric adenocarcinoma

AIM: To investigate the expression of stomatin-like protein 2 (SLP-2) in gastric adenocarcinoma and to analyze its significance.

METHODS: The expression of SLP-2 mRNA and protein was detected by RT-PCR in 40 cases and by immunohistochemistry in 45 cases of human gastric adenocarcinoma and adjacent tumor-free tissue, respectively. The relationship between SLP-2 expression and clinicopathologic characteristics of gastric adenocarcinoma was then analyzed.

RESULTS: The expression of SLP-2 mRNA and protein in gastric adenocarcinoma was significantly higher than that in adjacent tumor-free tissue (68.9% vs 26.7%, 1.12 ± 0.47 vs 0.63 ± 0.31, both P < 0.01). SLP-2 expression in gastric adenocarcinoma was associated with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (χ² = 5.32, 4.78, both P < 0.05), but not with other clinicopathologic characteristics (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The expression of SLP-2 is increased in gastric adenocarcinoma. SLP-2 may play important roles in the occurrence, development and metastasis of gastric adenocarcinoma.