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.