Beclin 1 expression is associated with the occurrence and development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Du,Hailei; Che,Jiamin; Shi,Minmin; Zhu,Lianggang; Hang,Jun Biao; Chen,Zhongyuan; Li,Hecheng

doi:10.3892/ol.2017.7015

Beclin 1 expression is associated with the occurrence and development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Authors:
- Hailei Du
- Jiamin Che
- Minmin Shi
- Lianggang Zhu
- Jun Biao Hang
- Zhongyuan Chen
- Hecheng Li
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Affiliations: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China, Institute of Digestive Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China
Published online on: September 21, 2017 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2017.7015
Pages: 6823-6828

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Abstract

Beclin 1 has a central role in the regulation of autophagy, differentiation, apoptosis resistance, tumorigenesis and cancer progression. The role of Beclin 1 in the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its subsequent progression is not fully characterized. In the present study, the role of Beclin 1 and autophagy in ESCC was evaluated. The expression of Beclin 1 mRNA and protein levels in human ESCC tumor and adjacent normal esophageal tissue was measured. Beclin 1 mRNA and protein were significantly lower in tumor tissue than in normal esophageal tissue (P<0.05). Cells of the less differentiated esophageal tumors expressed lower Beclin 1 mRNA and protein (P<0.05). Tumors from patients in early clinical stages (I/II) exhibited significantly higher Beclin 1 mRNA and protein expression levels than patients with tumors in mid‑to‑late stages (III/IV; P<0.05). Tumors from patients with lymph node metastasis exhibited significantly lower Beclin 1 mRNA and protein expression levels compared with tumors from patients without lymph node involvement (P<0.05). Beclin 1 downregulation was demonstrated to significantly upregulate invasion by ESCC EC9706 cells (P<0.01), and downregulate the number of acidic vesicular organelles, a process associated with autophagy. These results suggest that the expression of Beclin 1 is associated with the occurrence and development of ESCC. Measuring the Beclin 1 expression of tumors from patient may improve the understanding of the prognosis of patients with ESCC.

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