Expression of heat shock protein 27 mRNA in the carcinogenesis of esophageal squamous epithelium

Purpose:To study the expression of heat shock protein (HSP) 27 mRNA in esophageal squamous carcinoma, mucosa adjacent to cancer and normal esophageal mucosa. Methods:The expression of HSP27 mRNA in esophageal squamous carcinoma, mucosa adjacent to cancer and normal esophageal mucosa of 26 cases was quantitatively detected by RT-PCR. Results:The ratios of HSP27/GAPDH in esophageal squamous carcinoma, mucosa adjacent to cancer (atypical hyperplasia) and normal esophageal mucosa were 0.81±0.27, 0.90±0.24 and 1.22±0.39, respectively.The results suggested that the expressions of HSP27 mRNA in esophageal squamous carcinoma and mucosa with atypical hyperplasia were lower than that in normal esophageal mucosa (P0.05). However, the difference between the expression of HSP27 mRNA in esophageal squamous carcinoma and mucosa with atypical hyperplasia was not significant (P0.05). There was no obvious difference in the expressions of HSP27 mRNA as to age, gender and metastasis of lymph node (P0.05). Conclusions:Compared with normal esophageal mucosa, the expression of HSP27 mRNA in esophageal squamous carcinoma and mucosa with atypical hyperplasia was markedly decreased.This indicated that the expression of HSP27 mRNA to a greater or less extent lost in the carcinogenesis and development of esophageal squamous carcinoma. To up-regulate the expression of HSP27 mRNA in esophageal squamous carcinoma may be a very effective biological therapy.