AIM:To explore the expression of reversion inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endoglin (CD105) protein and its correlation with occurrence, development, invasion and metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).
METHODS:Streptavidin-peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemistry was used to detect expression of RECK and VEGF in 62 cases of ESCC, 31 cases of adjacent atypical hyperplastic epithelium and 62 cases of normal esophageal epithelium. CD105 Mb was used to assess microvessel density (MVD).
RESULTS:T h e e x p r e s s i o n o f R E C K w a s c l o s e l y correlated with histological grade, infiltrative depth and lymphatic metastasis in ESCC (P < 0.05). The expression of RECK decreased during cancer development: normal esophageal epithelium (85.5%, 53/62), adjacent atypical hyperplastic epithelium (71.0%, 22/31), and carcinoma (59.7%, 37/62). There was a significant difference among the groups (P < 0.05). The expression of VEGF protein was closely correlated with infiltrative depth and lymphatic metastasis in ESCC (P < 0.05). The expression of VEGF protein increased during cancer development: normal esophageal epithelium (29.0%, 18/62), adjacent atypical hyperplastic epithelium (54.8%, 17/31), and carcinoma (67.7%, 42/62). There was a significant difference among the groups (P < 0.05). MVDCD105 increased in accordance with histological grade, but there was no significant difference (grade Ⅰ, 36.92 ± 10.85; grade Ⅱ, 37.65 ± 9.50; and grade Ⅲ, 38.06 ± 12.19). The MVDCD105 was closely correlated with infiltration and lymphatic metastasis in ESCC (P < 0.05). The expression of RECK was inversely correlated with the expression of VEGF and CD105.