Expression of Livin in Esophageal Carcinoma and Its Correlation with P53,Bcl-2

Objective To investigate the expression of inhibitor of apoptosis gene Livin and its relationship with expression of P53,Bcl-2 in esophageal carcinoma tissues. Methods The expression of Livin messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in 36 esophageal carcinoma tissues and 18 para-cancerous tissues were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) combined with silver staining technique. The expression of Livin, P53 and Bcl-2 proteins were detected by immunohistochemical method (streptavidin-peroxidase). Results RT-PCR results: Livin mRNA positive expression of esophageal carcinoma tissues was more evident than that of para-cancerous tissues, the expression of both variants was simultaneous basically. Immunohistochemical results: the Livin protein positive expression rate of esophageal carcinoma tissues was higher evidently than that of para-cancerous tissues(P0.01). Livin protein positive expression rate of external coat of esophagus invaded by carcinoma was higher than that of tunica muscularis esophagi invaded by carcinoma(P0.05); Livin protein positive expression rate of lymph node metastasis was higher than that of normal lymph node (P0.05). The expression of Livin protein was not related to the expression of P53 protein(χ2=1.00,P=0.505),but it was positively related to the expression of Bcl-2 protein(χ2=10.60,P=0.003). Conclusion Aberrant expression of Livin may be a new target for diagnosis and gene treatment of esophageal carcinoma.The aberrant expression of Livin and apoptosis related gene Bcl-2 may play synergetic roles in process of carcinogenesis of esophageal carcinoma.