表皮钙黏蛋白在食管癌组织中的表达及意义

目的　探讨表皮钙黏蛋白(E cadherin, E CD)在食管癌中的表达及其与食管癌发生发展和侵袭转移的相关性。方法　采用免疫组织化学法检测了58例食管癌标本和122例其他各种病变食管上皮中的E cadherin表达,分析其表达与食管癌的临床病理特征的关系。结果　食管鳞癌、腺癌中E cadherin 基因蛋白阳性表达率分别为22.0%(11/50)、25%(2/8),与正常组100%(20/20)、单纯性增生组92.9%(26/28)相比,有非常显著性差异(P<0.01)。E cadherin阳性表达与鳞癌的分级、癌细胞浸润深度及有无淋巴结转移有关(P均<0.05)。结论　食管癌中,随着肿瘤恶性程度及浸润转移的增加,E cadherin表达逐渐降低,以致丧失;E cadherin可作为检测肿瘤早期发生、预测转移潜能和预后状况的有价值的指标。

Expression and clinical significance of E-cadherin gene protein in esophageal carcinoma

Objective To study the relationship between the expression of E-cadherin and the development, invasion and metastasis of esophageal carcinoma. Methods The expressions of E-cadherin in 58 cases with esophgeal carcinoma and 122 other cases with esophageal epithelial disease were examined by immunohistochemical technique. The relation between the expression of E-cadherin in esophageal carcinoma and the clinical pathological characteristics of esophageal carcinoma were analyzed. Results The expression rate of E-cadherin gene protein in esophageal squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma was 22.0%(11/50), 25.0%(2/8), respectively, compared with the normal group (100%, 20/20) and simple atypical hyperplastic group (92.9%, 26/28). The difference was significant (P<0.01). The positive expression of E-cadherin gene protein showed a significant correlation with squamous cancer grades, cancer invasive depth, and lymphnode metastasis (P<0.05). Conclusion The expression of E-cadherin gene protein decreased gradually with malignant grade and invasive metastasis increased; E-cadherin can be used as a valuable index for monitoring tumor early onset, predicting potential metastasis and prognostic conditions of a cancer.