Abstract
To determine the role of the reactive stroma in cancer progression, we investigated decorin (DCN) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta expression, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity in the tumorous esophagus. We found statistically insignificantly decreased levels of DCN expression in the pathological tissues. No obvious alterations in TGF-beta expression were noticed. The highly significant increase in MMP-2 activity in cancers did not result in elevated levels of TGF-beta dimers. Therefore, the system of TGF-beta liberation from its complex with DCN by activated MMP-2 does not seem to contribute to esophageal cancerogenesis, although this hypothesis should be reevaluated with a larger study group.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Aged
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / chemistry*
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / enzymology
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics
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Decorin
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Enzyme Activation
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Esophageal Neoplasms / chemistry*
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Esophageal Neoplasms / enzymology
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Esophageal Neoplasms / genetics
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Extracellular Matrix Proteins / analysis*
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Extracellular Matrix Proteins / genetics
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Female
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Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
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Humans
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Immunohistochemistry
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Male
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Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / analysis*
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Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / genetics
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Middle Aged
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Protein Isoforms
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Proteoglycans / analysis*
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Proteoglycans / genetics
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Stromal Cells / chemistry
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Transforming Growth Factor beta / analysis*
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Transforming Growth Factor beta / genetics
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Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / analysis
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Transforming Growth Factor beta2 / analysis
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Transforming Growth Factor beta3 / analysis
Substances
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DCN protein, human
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Decorin
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Extracellular Matrix Proteins
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Protein Isoforms
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Proteoglycans
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Transforming Growth Factor beta
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Transforming Growth Factor beta1
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Transforming Growth Factor beta2
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Transforming Growth Factor beta3
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MMP2 protein, human
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Matrix Metalloproteinase 2