ABSTRACT
To explore the significance of Erbin expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its relation-ship with patient prognosis. Methods: Erbin expression in a tissue chip containing samples from 299 cases were examined using immu-nohistochemistry; in addition, the relationship between Erbin expression and clinical-pathological parameters and patient survival time were also analyzed. Cox regression was used to predict the risk of clinical-pathological parameters. The mRNA and protein expres-sion of Erbin was also determined in 25 cases with paired ESCC and normal tissues through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and West-ern blot. Results: The expression of Erbin protein and mRNA in ESCC were significantly higher than those of normal esophageal epithe-lium adjacent to cancer (55.2% vs. 0, P<0.05). The high expression of Erbin in ESCC was closely related to TNM stage (64.9% vs. 47.3%, P=0.002) and lymph node metastasis (65.5% vs. 45.0%, P<0.001). Moreover, the high expression of Erbin in ESCC was closely related to poor prognosis (P<0.05). Conclusions: Erbin expression was increased in ESCC and was closely related to poor patient prognosis, which suggested that Erbin may be an important biomarker for the prognosis of cancer patients.
ABSTRACT
Background and purpose:As a member of the catenin family, Delta-catenin protein could promote proliferation and invasion of tumor cells, but the accurate mechanism of Delta-catenin promoting cell proliferation is not clear. In the present study, we illustrated that Delta-catenin’s effect on cell apoptosis and their relationship with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, and the possible mechanism was also explored for Delta-catenin promoting invasion and proliferation of tumor cells. Methods:The alterations of p38 and c-jun N-terminal rinasel JNK protein activity were detected in SPC and SK lung cancer cell lines with Delta-catenin overexpression or not, by Western blot method. At the same time, the apoptotic number of tumor cells was also examined by FCM method. Furthermore, the number of invasive tumor cells was examined by Matrigel invasive experiment. Results:Compared with untreated group and empty vector group, the activity of p38 protein was unchanged in lung cancer cell lines with Delta-catenin overexpressed (P>0.05), but the activity of JNK protein was decreased signiifcantly (P<0.05),meanwhile, apoptotic proportion of tumor cells were also reduced (P<0.05), and invasive ability of tumor cells was enhanced signiifcantly (P<0.05). Conclusion:Delta-catenin probably decreases apoptosis number of lung cancer cells via inhibiting the activity of JNK pathway, and then promotes invasive ability of tumor cells.