Differential expression of Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 correlates with esophageal cancer progression and epidemiology

Esophageal cancer(EC) is one of the most lethal malignancies in China, but the etiology and risk factors remain unclear.The integrin-interacting proteins Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 are focal adhesion molecules that activate transmembrane receptor integrins and regulate tumor cell growth, invasion, and metastasis. Here, we report that Kindlin-I and Kindlin-2 are differentially expressed among Chinese EC patients. For this, Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 expression was evaluated in 220 EC patients by immunohistochemistry(IHC) and found to be correlated with the EC progression, along with a variety of epidemiologic parameters,including smoking,family EC history,and EC invasion status. Moreover,data downloaded from the Oncomine database revealed that both Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 were upregulated in ECs compared with normal esophageal tissues; although Kindlin-1 was highly expressed in well-differentiated tumors, whereas Kindlin-2 was more prevalent in poorly differentiated tumors. Collectively, these data suggest that Kindlin-1 may inhibit, while Kindlin-2 may promote, EC progression. This study,for the first time, linked the expression of Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 with EC family genetic background and living habits, which may help further our understanding of the various causes of EC.

Esophageal cancer （EC） is one of the most lethal malignancies in China, but the etiology and risk factors remain unclear. The integrin-interacting proteins Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 are focal adhesion molecules that activate transmembrane receptor integrins and regulate tumor cell growth, invasion, and metastasis. Here, we report that Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 are differentially expressed among Chinese EC patients. For this, Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 expression was evaluated in 220 EC patients by immunohistochemistry （IHC） and found to be correlated with the EC progression, along with a variety of epidemiologic parameters, including smoking, family EC history, and EC invasion status. Moreover, data downloaded from the Oncomine database revealed that both Kindlin- 1 and Kindlin-2 were upregulated in ECs compared with normal esophageal tissues; although Kindlin-1 was highly expressed in well-differentiated tumors, whereas Kindlin-2 was more prevalent in poorly differentiated tumors. Collectively, these data suggest that Kindlin-1 may inhibit, while Kindlin-2 may promote, EC progression. This study, for the first time, linked the expression of Kindlin-1 and Kindlin-2 with EC family genetic background and living habits, which may help further our understanding of the various causes of EC.