Contactin-1 (CNTN-1) overexpression is correlated with advanced clinical stage and lymph node metastasis in oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas

Abstract

Objective: Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma is one of the deadliest malignancies worldwide. Contactin-1, a neural adhesion molecule, is implicated in tumour invasion and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of CNTN-1 in normal and cancerous oesophageal tissue, and the potential relevance to clinicopathological features. Methods: Thirty normal oesophageal tissue samples and 82 primary oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue samples were included in this study. The expression levels of CNTN-1, VEGF-C and HIF-1α messenger RNA were determined using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The expression of the CNTN-1 protein was measured using immunohistochemistry. Results: The expression of CNTN-1 messenger RNA was significantly increased in the tumour tissue compared with the normal oesophageal tissue (P = 0.001). The oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue consistently showed higher CNTN-1 protein levels. The CNTN-1 expression correlated with the oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma stage (P = 0.006), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.018) and lymphatic invasion (P = 0.035). The messenger RNA level of CNTN-1 correlated significantly with those of VEGF-C and HIF-1α. Conclusions: The expression of CNTN-1 is upregulated in the oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue and related to stage, lymph node metastasis and lymphatic invasion. Thus, CNTN-1 may be involved in the progression and pathogenesis of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. © The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.