Expression and biological significance of matrix metalloprofeinase inhibitor RECK gene in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

AIM: To explore the expression of reversion inducing cysteine rich protein with kazal motifs (RECK) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its correlations with the occurrence and development of ESCC.

METHODS: A total of 62 ESCC specimens, resected in Anyang Tumor Hospital of Henan Province from Februrary 26 to March 16, 2006, were collected. All the cases didn't receive chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. SP immunohistochemical method and in situ hubridyzation were used to detect the expression of RECK protein and mRNA in the 62 carcinoma specimens, 31 cancer-adjacent specimens (within 3 cm) and 62 normal esophageal epithelial specimens.

RESULTS: The protein and mRNA expression of RECK were closely related with the tumor grades, infilatration and lymphatic metastasis in ESCC. The expression rates of RECK protein were increased ordinally in carcinoma specimens, cancer-adjacent epithelium and normal esophageal epithelial specimens, and there was a significant difference in group comparison (RECK protein: χ² = 10.331, P < 0.01; RECK mRNA: χ² = 19.186, P < 0.01). There was a positive correlation between the protein and mRNA expression of RECK (r = 0.416, P < 0.01) in ESCC.

CONCLUSION: Lower expression of RECK has a correlation with the pathogenesis of and development of ESCC, and RECK may be a new assistant index for early diagnosis and prognosis of ESCC.

Correlation between the protein expression of reversion inducing cysteine rich protein with Kazal motifs and matrix matalloproteinase-9 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its clinical pathological significance

AIM: To investigate the expression of reversion inducing cysteine rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) protein and their correlations with the occurrence, development, invasion and metasta-sis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODS: SP immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of RECK and MMP-9 protein in 62 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (EC), 31 cases of adjacent atypical hyperplasia (AH) and 62 cases of normal esophageal epithelium (NE). Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square test.

RESULTS: The protein expression of RECK and MMP-9 were closely correlated with the tumor grade, infiltration and lymph node metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (RECK: χ² = 10.422, 8.550, 4.751; MMP-9: χ² = 8.447, 14.333, 5.373; all P < 0.05). The expression rate of RECK protein was increased ordinally in EC, AH and NE which was 59.7%, 71.0%, and 85.5%, respectively, and there was significant difference between every two groups (P < 0.01). However, the expression rate of MMP-9 protein was decreased ordinally in EC, AH and NE, which was 80.6%, 80.6%, 27.4%, respectively, and there was significant difference between every two groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: RECK and MMP-9 may play important roles in the infiltration, metastasis and carcinomatous changes of mucosal epithelium in esophageal carcinoma. United detection of RECK and MMP-9 can be used in the early diagnosis and prognosis judgement of EC.