抑癌基因PTEN与食管癌

Suppressor Gene PTEN and Esophageal Carcinoma

PTEN是近年发现的一种与细胞信号传导途径有关的具有双特异性磷酸酶活性的新型抑癌基因。研究表明,该基因的突变与人类多种恶性肿瘤的发生发展密切相关。近年来国内外的学者在食管癌组织中发现,虽然该基因发生突变的频率较低,但其蛋白表达却普遍下降,表达程度与食管癌的恶性程度及预后密切相关。因此,PTEN的低表达可能参与了食管癌的发生发展过程。

PTEN is a tumor suppressor gene which was identified in recent years. It encodes a dual specific protein-phospholipic phosphatase involved in a variety of signal transduction pathways. It is found that deletions and mutations of this gene were closely associated with carcinogenesis and progression of many advanced tumors in humans. In esophageal carcinoma, the mutations of PTEN were not commonly found, but its expression tended to be lowered. The expression of PTEN protein was closely related with the degree of the differentiation of carcinoma and the prognosis of tumors. The decreased expression of PTEN may play an important role in the development and progression of esophageal carcinoma.