Expression and significance of LRIG1 and EGFR in human esophageal carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expression of LRIG1 and epithelial growth factor receptor(EGFR)in esophageal carcinoma. Methods The expression of LRIG1 and EGFR were detected by RT-PCR in 46 cases of esophageal carcinoma and comparing with 46 cases normal para-cancer tissues. Results The expression level of LRIG1 mRNA in esophageal carcinoma tissues(0.35±0.04) was lower than that in in esophageal carcinoma tissues(2.23±0.25) was higher than that in normal expression level of LRIG1 mRNA and EGFR mRNA in esophageal carcinoma tissues and normal para-cancer tissues,there were significant differences between them(r=-0.662,P<0.05). Conclusions The expression level of LRIG1 mRNA is lower in esophageal carcinoma tissues than that in normal para-cancer tissues,which reveals that LRIG1 gene may be an anti-oncogene. The high expression level of EGFR mRNA in esophageal carcinoma tissues and negative correlation between the expression level of LRIG1 mRNA and EGFR mRNA in human esophageal tissues, may reveal that the lower expression of LRIG1 mRNA lead to the reduction of inhibition signal to EGFR and active it, results in the progression of esophageal carcinoma. Key words: LRIG1 gene; EGFR gene; Esophageal carcinoma; RT-PCR