Suppressor Gene PTEN and Esophageal Carcinoma

PTEN is a tumor suppressor gene which was identified in recent years. It encodes a dual specific protein-phospholipic phosphatase involved in a variety of signal transduction pathways. It is found that deletions and mutations of this gene were closely associated with carcinogenesis and progression of many advanced tumors in humans. In esophageal carcinoma, the mutations of PTEN were not commonly found, but its expression tended to be lowered. The expression of PTEN protein was closely related with the degree of the differentiation of carcinoma and the prognosis of tumors. The decreased expression of PTEN may play an important role in the development and progression of esophageal carcinoma.