ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the expression of Ezrin protein and c-met in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, their significance in the progress of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma development and metastasis. Methods The expression of Ezrin protein and c-met in 50 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was studied using immunohistochemical (SP) method. The correlation of each score according to the intensity and percentage of labeled cells or intercellular substance with relevant clinical data was statistically analyzed. Results In normal esophageal squamous epithelium, the positive expression of Ezrin protein was 34 %, the positive expression of c-met was 8.0 %. In esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, the positive expression of Ezrin protein was 76.0 %, the positive expression of c-met was 58.0 %. The expression of Ezrin protein had close relation to depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis(P < 0.05). The positive rate of c-met protein expression in lymph node metastasis was obviously higher than those without lymph node metasis (P <0.05). The expressinn of Ezrin protein in c-met positive eases was obviously higher than those of c-met negative cases(P <0.05). Conclusion The test of Ezrin protein and c-met may have significant prognostic value for assessing the degree of malignancy and potential lymph node metastasis probability of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Ezrin protein may be a target to evaluate the tumor prognosis.