The role of growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 associated binder protein-2 and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B signal transduction pathway in the occurrence and development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expression of growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 associated binder protein-2 (Gab2),phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) and kinase B (Akt) protein and mRNA in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC),and to evaluate the correlation between Gab2 and PI3K/Akt signal transduction pathway.Methods The expression levels of Gab2,PI3K and Akt protein and mRNA were detected in 59 cases of ESCC tissues,27 cases of atypical hyperplasia tissues and 36 cases of normal esophageal mucosa tissues by immunohistochemistry and in situ hubridyzation technology.Results The positive expression rate of Gab2 protein and mRNA in ESCC tissues was significantly higher than that in atypical hyperplasia tissues or normal esophageal mucosa tissues (66.1％ vs.25.9％ and 13.9％,and 59.3％ vs.14.8％ and 8.3％).The expression levels of PI3K protein and mRNA were higher in ESCC than those in atypical hyperplasia tissues and normal esophageal mucosa tissues (62.7％ vs.40.7％ and 16.7％,and 52.5％ vs.25.9％ and 13.9％),and the expression levels of Akt protein and mRNA were higher in ESCC than those in atypical hyperplasia tissues and normal esophageal mucosa tissues (59.3％vs.22.2％ and 8.3％,and 50.8％ vs 18.5％ and 11.1％) (all P ＜ 0.05).The expressions of Gab2,PI3K and Akt mRNA and proteins were tightly related to the lymph node metastasis in ESCC tissues (P ＜0.05).Further,the correlation analysis revealed that the expression levels of Gab2,PI3K and Akt proteins and mRNA in ESCC displayed a positive correlation.Conclusion The expression levels of Gab2,PI3K and Akt mRNA and proteins are positively correlated with the carcinogenesis of ESCC.The high expression of Gab2 in ESCC may be regulated by PI3K/Akt molecular pathway. Key words: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma ; Growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 associated binder protein-2; Phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase; Protein kinase B