Expression of MTA2 and correlation between it and lymph node metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of metastasis-associated gene 2(MTA2) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC), and relationship between expression and lymph node metastasis of ESCC. METHODS: Expressions of MTA2 was detected by immunohistochemical staining (SP) and flow cytometry (FCM) in tissues from 102 patients with ESCC and 12 normal esophageal mucosa. Analysis was performed in relationship with lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: The expression rate of MTA2 in ESCC was 68.6% (70/102). MTA2 was negative expressed in normal esophageal mucosa. The expression rate of MTA2 in esophageal esophageal with or without metastasis of lymph nodes were 68.2% (15/22) and 27.1% (13/48), and there was a significant deference (P=0.003). The expression of MTA2 was related to the lymphatic metastasis of ESCC, and its expression level was higher in patients with lymphatic metastasis. The protein relative level detected by FCM: the protein content of MTA2 were 252.11±30.22 in positive lymph node metastasis and 161.42±22.89 in negative group, There was a significant deference (t=15.11, P=0.000). CONCLUSION: The expression of MTA2 in ESCC is related with lymph node metastasis and MTA2 may act as a new symbol and target in the treatment of ESCC.