ABSTRACT
Objective To examine the expression of transforming growth factor β(TGF-β) activated kinase 1 (TAK1) in esophageal organization and the impact of TAK1 expression on clinicopathologic data. Methods Specimens from 80 patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma managed in our hospital were included in this study. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of TAK1 in 80 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues and 80 cases of normal esophageal mucosal tissues. All the specimens were confirmed by pathology for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma or esophageal normal tissues. Results The positive expression rate of TAK1 in esophageal cancer organizations and normal esophageal mucosal tissues were 80% and 11.25%, respectively. The positive expression rate of TAK1 in esophageal cancer were significantly higher than those in normal esophageal mucosal tissue (P 0.05), but with lymph node metastasis and clinical stage (P<0.05). Patients with positive TAK1 expression had significantly lower five-year survival rate than those with tumors having positive TAK1 expression Conclusion TAK1 played an important role in the pathology and development of squamous cell carcinoma , and could be an important therapeutic target in the treatment of esophageal cancer.