Characterization and correlation of 14-3-3σ and P53 protein expressions in multi-stage carcinogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

AIM: To characterize the 14-3-3σ and P53 protein expressions during multi-stage carcinogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and in normal esophageal mucous epithelium. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry (ABC) methods were used to determine 14-3-3σ and P53 protein expressions in 60 cases of ESCC, nearby matched normal esophageal epithelium and a variety of ESCC precursors. RESULTS: High expression of 14-3-3σ was found ubiquitously in normal esophageal epithelium with a digitalized average value of 8.22 in expression. Protein 14-3-3σ was down-regulated stepwise during the development of esophageal carcinoma from normal epithelium. Sixty-four percent of poorly-differentiated squamous cancer lost 14-3-3σ expression with the digitalized value of 0.45. However, pattern of P53 protein expression was in contrast to 14-3-3σ. Sixty-seven percent of esophageal cancer expressed P53 at a high level with a quantitated amount of 4.8. In nearby normal epithelium of esophagus, the P53 protein expression was low with a digitalized value of 0.42. Significant negative correlation between 14-3-3σ and p53 expressions was revealed by Spearman rank correlation analysis (P0.05). CONCLUSION: The aberrant expression pattern of 14-3-3σ and p53 may contribute to the formation and progression of ESCC and may predict the prognosis of ESCC patients. Proteins 14-3-3σ and P53 have the potential to become biomarkers for early diagnosis of esophageal cancer and end-point molecules of ESCC prevention.