Case Control Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2015. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 21, 2015; 21(3): 905-912
Published online Jan 21, 2015. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v21.i3.905
RhoC, vascular endothelial growth factor and microvascular density in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Zhi-Hua Zhao, Yan Tian, Jian-Pin Yang, Jun Zhou, Kui-Sheng Chen
Zhi-Hua Zhao, Yan Tian, Jian-Pin Yang, Jun Zhou, Kui-Sheng Chen, Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China
Author contributions: Zhao ZH, Tian Y and Chen KS designed the research; Zhao ZH, Tian Y, Chen KS, Yang JP and Zhou J performed the research; Zhao ZH, Tian Y and Chen KS contributed new reagents or analytic tools; Zhao ZH and Tian Y analyzed the data; Zhao ZH and Tian Y wrote the paper.
Supported by First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan-based Research Projects with Cutting-Edge Technology, No. 132300410126 and No. 132300410458.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Correspondence to: Kui-Sheng Chen, MD, Professor, Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1 Jianshe East Rd, Erqi District, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China. 15036607301@163.com
Telephone: +86-371-66658175 Fax: +86-371-66658175
Received: March 27, 2014
Peer-review started: March 27, 2014
First decision: August 6, 2014
Revised: August 23, 2014
Accepted: November 8, 2014
Article in press: November 11, 2014
Published online: January 21, 2015
Processing time: 299 Days and 12.7 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the expression of Ras homolog (Rho)C, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CD105 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODS: Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical streptavidin-biotin- peroxidase methods were used to detect expression of RhoC mRNA and protein, and VEGF protein in 62 cases with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, 31 cases with adjacent atypical hyperplastic tissues, and 62 cases with normal esophageal mucosa. CD105 antibody labeling was used to measure microvascular density. Expression levels were compared according to clinicopathologic and patient parameters.

RESULTS: Expression of RhoC mRNA showed a positive correlation with the protein level in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, as well as with VEGF protein levels. RhoC mRNA expression was mainly located within the cytoplasm of the tumor cells, appearing as blue to purple particles by in situ hybridization. The differences in RhoC mRNA expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, adjacent atypical hyperplasia and normal esophageal mucosa were significant (P < 0.05). The relative expression of RhoC mRNA in cancer tissues with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than in the tissues without lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). VEGF protein expression was consistent with microvascular density (t = 25.52, P < 0.05). Positive expression of VEGF protein in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma of different histologic gradings did not differ significantly. Positive expression of VEGF protein in carcinoma tissues with deep infiltration was significantly higher than in tissues with only superficial infiltration (P < 0.05). The positive expression of VEGF protein in cancer tissues with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than in the tissues without lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: RhoC protein may upregulate VEGF expression, thereby promoting tumor angiogenesis. RhoC mRNA and protein expression was correlated with metastasis.

Keywords: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Gene silencing; Ras homolog C; Vascular endothelial growth factor

Core tip: Recent studies have found that Ras homolog (Rho)C plays an important role in promoting angiogenesis in breast cancer. RhoC overexpression in breast cancer epithelial cells can improve expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and other angiogenic factors. Detection of the expression of RhoC, VEGF and microvascular density in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and the relationship with metastasis and invasion have not been reported.