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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 14, 2007; 13(30): 4126-4130
Published online Aug 14, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i30.4126
Expression of G3BP and RhoC in esophageal squamous carcinoma and their effect on prognosis
Hui-Zhong Zhang, Jin-Geng Liu, Yi-Ping Wei, Cheng Wu, Yong-Ke Cao, Mei Wang
Hui-Zhong Zhang, Jin-Geng Liu, Yi-Ping Wei, Cheng Wu, Yong-Ke Cao, Mei Wang, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 107 Yan-Jiang Road, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by Key Science Research Project of Guangdong Province, No. 2003B30104
Correspondence to: Jin-Geng Liu, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-en University, 107 Yan-Jiang Road, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong Province, China. liujingeng888@sina.com
Telephone: +86-20-81332295
Received: February 3, 2007
Revised: April 3, 2007
Accepted: April 11, 2007
Published online: August 14, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the expression and significance of G3BP and RhoC proteins in esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESC).

METHODS: The expression of G3BP and Rhoc proteins in 80 cases of ESC was detected by immunohistochemistry. The relationship was studied between the expression of the two proteins and tumor size, differentiation degree, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and prognosis of ESC.

RESULTS: The positive expression rate of G3BP in ESC was 71.25%; and the rate in the lymph node metastasis group was significantly higher than that in the non-lymph node metastasis group (Z = -2.283, P = 0.022), but no relations were found between G3BP expression and tumor size, differentiation degree and TNM stage (P > 0.05). The group with G3BP positive expression had shorter survival time than the group with G3BP negative expression (P = 0.000). The positive expression rate of RhoC in ESC was 66.25%; and the rate in the lymph node metastasis group was significantly higher than that in the non-lymph node metastasis group (Z = -2.115, P < 0.05), but no relations were found between RhoC expression and tumor size, differentiation degree and TNM stage (P > 0.05). The RhoC positive expression group had a shorter survival time than the RhoC negative expression group (P < 0.001. The expression of G3BP protein correlated positively with the expression of RhoC in ESC tissues (rs = 0.656, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: The expression of G3BP and RhoC protein is closely related to the lymph node metastasis and survival in ESC patients. G3BP and RhoC proteins can be considered as predictors of prognosis in ESC patients.

Keywords: Esophageal neoplasm; G3BP; RhoC; Immuno-histochemistry; Lymph node metastasis; Prognosis