This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the expression level of esophageal carcinoma related gene 4 (ECRG4) in esophageal cancer tissues and the occurrence of esophageal carcinoma. 50 cases of esophageal carcinoma tissues and adjacent tissues were collected as study samples. mRNA and protein expression levels of ECRG4 in tumor tissues and adjacent tissues were analyzed by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. The relationship between the expression level of ECRG4 and the clinical and pathological features and postoperative recurrence and survival was also analyzed. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot showed that the mRNA and protein levels of ECRG4 in esophageal cancer tissues were significantly down regulated (P<0.04). There was ECRG low expression in 74 cases and high expression in 17 cases. The expression level of ECRG4 protein in esophageal carcinoma tissues was closely related to tumor invasion level, TNM staging and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), but not related to gender, age, tumor type and differentiation degree of patients (P>0.05). The cumulative recurrence rate of patients of higher ECRG expression was significantly lower than that of patients of lower ECRG4 expression in 5 years after surgery, and the cumulative recurrence rate was 5 years (P<0.05). And the cumulative survival rate of patients with high ECRG4 expression was significantly higher than that of patients with low expression of ECRG4 in 5 years after surgery (P<0.05). In conclusion, the low expression or no expression of ECRG4 in esophageal cancer tissues was closely related to the degree of tumor invasion level, TNM staging, lymph node metastasis and recurrence and survival after surgery.
Keywords: Esophageal carcinoma; esophageal carcinoma related gene 4 (ECRG4); expression; prognosis.