Lgr5在Barrett食管和早期食管鳞癌中的表达

Expression of Lgr5 in Barrett Esophagus and Early Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

背景:Lgr5为Wnt信号通路的靶基因和肿瘤干细胞标记物,有作为Barrett食管相关异型增生和食管腺癌生物学标记的潜能。目的:探讨Lgr5在Barrett食管和早期食管鳞癌中的表达及其临床意义。方法:选取Barrett食管、早期食管鳞癌和轻度食管炎组织各20例,以免疫组化方法检测Lgr5的表达和分布,根据阳性细胞比例和染色强度行半定量评分。结果:Lgr5表达于腺体细胞的细胞质和鳞状细胞的细胞核。Barrett食管组织腺上皮Lgr5表达评分显著高于轻度食管炎组织(3.65±1.95对2.55±1.70,P=0.049)。早期食管鳞癌癌灶组织Lgr5表达评分显著高于相应癌旁组织(5.39±0.61对3.06±1.06,P=0.000);原位癌、黏膜内癌与黏膜下癌间Lgr5表达评分差异无统计学意义(5.00±0.63、5.56±0.53和6.00±0.58,P=0.174)。结论:Lgr5可能作为辅助诊断Barrett食管和早期食管鳞癌的生物学标记。

Lgr5, the target gene of Wnt signal pathway, has been identified as a marker of cancer stem cells, and has the potential to be used as a biomarker for Barrett esophagus （BE）-associated dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma （EAC）. Aims： To investigate the expression and significance of Lgr5 in BE and early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma （ESCC）. Methods： Paraffin-embedded tissues of BE, early ESCC and low-grade esophagitis （20 cases in each group） were collected to examine the expression and distribution of Lgr5 by immuuohistochemistry. The immunoreactivity was semi-quantitatively scored based on the percentage of positive cells and intensity of immunostaining. Results： Lgr5 immunostaining distributed in cytoplasm of glandular cells and nucleus of squamous cells. The immunoreactivity score of Lgr5 in glandular epithelium was higher in BE than that in low-grade esophagitis （3.65±1.95 vs. 2.55±1.70, P=0.049）. While in early ESCC, the immunoreactivity score of Lgr5 was higher in cancerous area than that in paracancerous area （5.39±0.61 vs. 3.06±1.06, P=0.000）, but no significant differences were found between intraepithelial, intramucosal and submucosal ESCCs （5,00±0.63, 5.56±0.53 and 6.00±0.58, P=0.174）. Conclusions： Lgr5 might be used as a biomarker for BE and early ESCC.