EXPRESSION OF GST-π GENE IN HUMAN ESOPHAGEAL CARCINOGENESIS

Objective: To investigate the possible role of GSTπ in esophageal carcinogenesis. Methods: GST-πexpression at mRNA level was studied by in situ hybridization (ISH) and at protein level by immunohistochemistry (IHC). GST-π expression in normal epithelial cells (NC) of the esophagus,hyperplastic cells (HC), dysplastic cells (DC) from grade Ⅰ to Ⅲ, carcinoma in situ (CIS) and all the cells in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) were examined in the same esophageal cancer specimens (n=48) which provided a model reflecting the process of esophageal carcinogenesis. Results: The positive rate of IHC staining was 87. 5% for NC, 95.3% for HC, 55.9% for DC (grade Ⅰ: 73.9%, grade Ⅱ: 47.4%, grade Ⅲ: 41.2%),36.4% for CIS and 45.8% for SCC. The positive rate of GST-π mRNA expression was 81.2% for NC, 94.4% for HC, 61.9% for DC (grade Ⅰ: 76.5%, grade Ⅱ: 61.5%,grade Ⅲ: 41.7%), 44.4% for CIS and 83.3% for grade ⅠSCC, 30.0% for grade Ⅱ SCC and 0% for grade ⅢSCC. There was no statistically significant difference in GST-π expression at the mRNA and the protein level.Conclusion: There is a decreasing tendency of GST-πexpression from dysplasia to CIS and SCC. The decrease in GST-π expression is an early event in esophageal carcinogenesis.