Esophageal Cancer
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 21, 2007; 13(7): 997-1002
Published online Feb 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i7.997
Cytochrome P450 levels are altered in patients with esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma
I Bergheim, E Wolfgarten, E Bollschweiler, AH Hölscher, C Bode, A Parlesak
I Bergheim, C Bode, A Parlesak, Department of Physiology of Nutrition, Hohenheim University (140e), Stuttgart 70599, Germany
E Wolfgarten, E Bollschweiler, AH Hölscher, Department of Visceral and Vascular Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Ina Bergheim, PhD, Hohenheim University (140b), Fruwirthstrasse 12, Stuttgart 70599, Germany. bergheim@uni-hohenheim.de
Telephone: +49-711-45924102 Fax: +49-711-45924343
Received: August 10, 2006
Revised: December 17, 2006
Accepted: January 23, 2007
Published online: February 21, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the role of cytochrome P450 (CYP) in the carcinogenesis of squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) in human esophagus by determining expression patterns and protein levels of representative CYPs in esophageal tissue of patients with SCC and controls.

METHODS: mRNA expression of CYP2E1, CYP2C, CYP3A4, and CYP3A5 was determined using RT-PCR in both normal and malignant esophageal tissues of patients with untreated esophageal SCC (n = 21) and in controls (n = 10). Protein levels of CYP2E1, CYP2C8, CYP3A4, and CYP3A5 were measured by Western blot.

RESULTS: Within the group of SCC patients, mRNA expression of CYP 3A4 and CYP2C was significantly lower in malignant tissue (-39% and -74%, respectively, P < 0.05) than in normal tissue. Similar results were found in CYP3A4 protein levels. Between groups, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and CYP2C8 protein concentration was significantly higher in non-malignant tissue of SCC patients (4.8-, 2.9-, and 1.9-fold elevation, P < 0.05) than in controls. In contrast, CYP2E1 protein levels were significantly higher in controls than in SCC patients (+46%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Significant differences exist in protein levels of certain CYPs in non-malignant esophageal tissue (e.g. CYP2C8, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and CYP2E1) between SCC patients and healthy subjects and may contribute to the development of SCC in the esophagus.

Keywords: Squamous-cell carcinoma; Cytochrome P450; Western blot; RT-PCR; Human