ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish the co-culture model of cancer cells and nerve, and to study the influence of esophageal cancer on nerve fibers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) was cultured in sterile conditions by primary isolation. Co-culture model was established using matrigel matrix-embedded DRG and EC109 (esophageal cancer cell line) transfected with green fluorescent protein. Morphological changes of DRG, number and area of neurites were quantified with microscopy and image analysis. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of nerve growth factor(NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) was detected by real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In mixture cultivation model of EC109 and DRG cells, directional outgrowth of neurite projecting to EC109 was observed, and the length of neurite was markedly longer in proximal field compared to distal field. The number and area of neurite were 87 and 346 μm(2) in proximal field respectively, and 23 and 141 μm(2) in distal field on the 7th day. The expressions of NGF and BDNF were up-regulated in esophageal cancer cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The esophageal cancer may play an important role in nerve fiber growth and guidance, which may be associated with the up-regulation of NGF and BDNF expressions.</p>