Expression and clinical significance of B7-H3 and CD68 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues

OBJECTIVE To investigate the expression of the costimulatory molecule B7-H3 and CD68in ESCC tissues and its clinical significance.METHODS The expression of B7-H3 and CD68in 70 surgically resected specimens and corresponding adjacent tissues of ESCC were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.The relationship between B7-H3,CD68 expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed.RESULTS The expression of B7-H3 was higher in ESCC[98.6%(69/70)]than that in adjacent tissues[7.1%(5/70),χ2=117.41,P0.001].The expression of CD68 was higher in ESCC [91.4%(64/70)]than that in adjacent tissues[18.6%(13/70),χ2=75.07,P0.001].There was significant correlation between the expression of B7-H3 with tumor invasion depth in patients with ESCC(P0.05).Moreover,the expression of CD68 was correlated with tumor invasion depth(P0.05).Meanwhile,positive correlation was found among the expression of B7-H3 and CD68in ESCC(r=0.300,P0.05).CONCLUSION The expressions of B7-H3 and CD68are overexpressed in ESCC and may play an important role in the occurrence and development of ESCC.