金属硫蛋白3在食管癌组织中的表达及其与金属硫蛋白1和2表达的关系

背景与目的:金属硫蛋白(metallothionein,MT)-3具有细胞生长抑制活性,是目前所知唯一具有独特生理功能的MT亚型。本研究旨在明确MT-3在食管癌组织中的表达特性及其与MT-1和MT-2表达的关系。方法:应用免疫组化SP法检测76例食管癌手术标本和10例食管憩室标本中MT-1、MT-2和MT-3的表达情况,并对MT-3表达及其与MT-1和MT-2表达的关系进行分析。结果:MT-3在食管癌组织中表达水平明显高于切缘"正常"组织及食管良性病变组织(χ2=74.696,P<0.001)。在肿瘤组织中,MT-3主要在胞浆中表达。MT-3的表达水平与肿瘤分化程度(P=0.004)、TNM分期(P=0.033)、淋巴结转移情况(P=0.017)及术后生存时间(P=0.035)有关,而且与MT-1和-2的表达呈负相关(r=0.247,P=0.032)。结论:MT-3在食管癌中呈高表达状态,其表达水平与食管癌的组织分化、进展及预后密切相关,而且其作用明显不同于占MT主体的MT-1和MT-2。

Expression of metallothionein-3 in esophageal cancer and its correlations to expression of metallothionein-1 and -2

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Metallothionein (MT)-3 can inhibit cell growth. Up to now, it is the only MT subtype with specific physiological function. This study was to investigate the expression of MT-3 in esophageal cancer and its correlations to the expression of MT-1 and MT-2. METHODS: The expression of MT-1, -2 and -3 in 76 specimens of esophageal cancer and 10 specimens of esophageal diverticulum were detected by SP immunohistochemistry. The correlations of MT-3 expression to MT-1 and MT-2 expression were analyzed. RESULTS: The expression level of MT-3 was significantly higher in esophageal cancer than in para-cancer normal tissues and benign esophageal lesions (Chi2=74.696, P<0.001). In tumor tissues, MT-3 was mainly expressed in cytoplasm. The expression level of MT-3 was related with differentiation (P=0.004), TNM stage (P=0.033), lymph node metastasis (P=0.017) and survival time (P=0.035), and negatively correlated to the expression levels of MT-1 and MT-2 (r=0.247, P=0.032). CONCLUSIONS: MT-3 is overexpressed in esophageal cancer. Its expression is closely related with the differentiation, development and prognosis of esophageal cancer, and its roles are obviously different from those of MT-1 and MT-2.