Expressions of a disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 and epidermal growth factor recepter in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and their significances

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expressions of a disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17) and epidermal growth factor recepter (EGFR) in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESC), and to explore their relationship with clinicopathological characteristics. Methods The paraffin specimens in postoperative pathological tissues of 66 ESC patients in the Third People's Hospital of Hefei from January 2013 to December 2017 were selected. Expressions of ADAM17 and EGFR proteins were examined by using immunohistochemistry in 66 cases of ESC tissues and 33 cases of adjacent tissues of the tumors. The relationship of ADAM17 and EGFR with clinicopathological features was analyzed. Kendall method was used to detect the expression correlation of ADAM17 and EGFR. Results The positive rate of ADAM17 protein in ESC tissues was higher than that in the adjacent tissues of the tumors [68.2 % (45/66) vs. 33.3 % (11/33), χ 2 = 10.874, P = 0.001]. The positive rate of EGFR protein in ESC tissues was higher than that in the adjacent tissues of the tumors [66.7 % (44/66) vs. 39.4 % (13/33), χ2 = 6.699, P = 0.01]. The expressions of ADAM17 and EGFR protein were related with ESC pathological TNM staging, infiltration depth, lymph node metastasis (χ2 = 4.797, 4.890, 6.089; 8.790, 8.766, 10.154, respectively, all P < 0.05). ADAM17 expression was positively correlated with EGFR protein (rs = 0.368, P < 0.05). Conclusions ADAM17 and EGFR are highly expressed in human ESC. Besides, ADAM17 and EGFR have the interaction in the occurrence and development of esophageal cancer. Joint detection may help to determine the degree of metastasis and evaluate prognosis. Key words: Esophageal neoplasms; A disintegrin and metalloprotease 17; Recepter, epidermal growth factor; Immunohistochemistry