ABSTRACT
Objective To examine the expression of COX-2, PCNA, CD44v6 protein in different procancerous lesion and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue, and to investigate the relationship between their expression and the biological level,lymph node metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue. Methods Immunohistochemistry was demonstrated to show these tumor markers expression in different procancerous lesions and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue. Results Stepwise over-expression of COX-2, CD44v6, PCNA protein were observed in the multi-step process of esophageal tissue. Significant difference in expression of these tumor markers(P ＜0.05) was observed between normal esophageal epithelia and dysplasia. The expression of COX-2 (P ＜0.05) had statistical different in biological level and lymph node metastasis.The expression of CD44v6 (P ＜0.05)had statistical different in lymph node metastasis. The relationship between COX-2 and CD44v6 was statistical significant in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue(P ＜0.01). Conclusion Stepwise over-expression of COX-2,CD44v6 PCNA protein have relation with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The overexpression of COX-2 and CD44v6 have effect on prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The expression of COX-2 have relationship with that of CD44v6 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.