| Summary: | Mounting evidence has demonstrated that Bit1 has been investigated as an etiological factor for certain cancers, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma reported in our previous study, but data regarding possible roles of Bit1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma remain to be elucidated. The purpose of this study was to examine whether Bit1 can be a novel diagnostic marker for the patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma. The results revealed that Bit1 level in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that in esophageal adenocarcinoma tissues ( p < 0.05); notably, Bit1 level in esophageal adenocarcinoma tissues was lower than that in paired normal tissues but no difference was found ( p > 0.05). Bit1 expression patterns were completely in accordance with matrix metalloproteinase 2 and Bcl-2 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma. In addition, Bit1, Bcl-2, and matrix metalloproteinase 2 expression patterns in different differentiated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were higher than those in corresponding normal esophageal tissues. Bit1 expression in poorly differentiated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that in normal esophageal tissues ( p < 0.05) but not in moderately and well-differentiated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Matrix metalloproteinase 2 expression patterns in poorly and moderately differentiated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were significantly higher than those in corresponding normal esophageal tissues ( p < 0.01) but not in well-differentiated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissue ( p > 0.05). Bcl-2 expression patterns in various differentiated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were higher than those in corresponding normal esophageal tissues with no statistical differences ( p > 0.05). Importantly, Bit1 expression was positively correlated with both matrix metalloproteinase 2 and Bcl-2 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma tissues ( p < 0.05). Collectively, these preliminary data support further investigation of Bit1 as an important diagnostic factor for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma.
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