Upregulation of Twist in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma is associated with neoplastic transformation and distant metastasis

• Published in: Journal of clinical pathology 2007-05, Vol.60 (5), p.510-514
• Main Authors: Yuen, Hiu-Fung, Chan, Yuen-Piu, Lok-Yee Wong, Michelle, Kwok, Wei-Kei, Chan, Ka-Kui, Lee, Pin-Yin, Srivastava, Gopesh, Law, Simon Ying-Kit, Wong, Yong-Chuan, Wang, Xianghong, Chan, Kwok-Wah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - biosynthesis; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Biotechnology; Cancer; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - secondary; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - surgery; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - metabolism; EMT; epithelial–mesenchymal transition; Esophageal Neoplasms - metabolism; Esophageal Neoplasms - pathology; Esophageal Neoplasms - surgery; Esophagectomy; Esophagus; FBS; Female; fetal bovine serum; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genes; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Localization; Male; Medical sciences; Metastasis; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Proteins - biosynthesis; Neoplasm Proteins - genetics; Neoplasm Staging; Nuclear Proteins - biosynthesis; Nuclear Proteins - genetics; Original; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Prognosis; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; reverse transcription-PCR; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Neoplasm - genetics; RT-PCR; SCC; squamous cell carcinoma; Statistical analysis; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Tumors; Twist-Related Protein 1 - biosynthesis; Twist-Related Protein 1 - genetics; Up-Regulation
• ISSN: 0021-9746; 1472-4146
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.2006.039099

Background: The antiapoptotic and epithelial–mesenchymal transition activities of Twist have been implicated in the neoplastic transformation and the development of metastasis, respectively. Upregulation of Twist, described in several types of human cancer, also acts as a prognostic marker of poor outcome. Aim: To investigate Twist expression in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and its prognostic value in a Chinese cohort of patients with oesophageal SCC. Methods: Twist expression in primary oesophageal SCC of 87 Chinese patients was investigated by immunohistochemical staining. Twist protein level in one immortalised normal oesophageal epithelial cell line and six oesophageal SCC cell lines was measured by western blot analysis. Twist mRNA level in 30 pairs of frozen specimens of primary oesophageal SCC and non-neoplastic oesophageal epithelium from the upper resection margin of corresponding oesophagectomy specimen was also determined by semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Results: It was found that Twist was upregulated in oesophageal SCC cell lines, and its mRNA and protein levels were both increased in oesophageal SCC and the non-neoplastic oesophageal epithelium (p