Expression And Significance Of Autophagy-related Protein Beclin 1 And LC3 In Han And Kazakh Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Objective:Elucidate the role of Beclin l and LC3 in the genesis and progression of ESCC by detecting the Beclin 1 and LC3 expression in different esophageal tissues to elucidate the relationship between Beclin1 and LC3 in the genesis and progression of ESCC.Methods:(1) Immunohistochemistry was applied to estimate Beclin 1 in 82 and 91 ESCC as well as 60 and 69 matched adjacent normal esophageal tissues(NETs) from Han and Kazakh, respectively. We also detected Beclin 1 expression in 98 precancerous lesions of Han.(2) Immunohistochemistry was applied to estimate LC3 in 85 and 88 ESCC as well as 54 and 61 matched adjacent normal esophageal tissues(NETs) from Han and Kazakh, respectively. We also detected LC3 expression in 88 precancerous lesions of Han.(3)Analysis the Beclin 1 and LC3 expression level in different groups. SPSS17.0 statistical package is used.Results:(1)The positive expression rate of Beclin 1 in Han NETs, LGIN, HGIN and ESCC, respectively, were 96.7%, 95.0%, 84.2% and 74.4%.NETs and ESCC(P=0.000), LGIN and ESCC(P=0.001), the difference were statistically significant. The positive expression rate of Beclin 1 in Ha NETs and ESCC was 97.1% and 76.9% respectively. Significant difference was observed among them(P=0.000).(2) The expression of Beclin 1 in Han and Ha ESCC tissueswas associated with tumour differentiation(P=0.026, P=0.030), and clinical stage(P=0.004,P=0.045), but with no correlation with sex, age, depth of tumor invasion.(3)Kaplan—Meier method demonstrated that the OS of high-Beclin 1 group was better than that of low-Beclin 1 group(P=0.02). Multivariate analysis showed that loss of Beclin 1 expression was an independent prognositic factor for poor OS in ESCC.(4)In Han ethnic, the LC3 positively was observed in 79.6%、63.0%、26.5% and 16.5% in four groups of NETs, LGIN, HGIN and ESCC patients, respectively. The positive expression rate of Beclin 1 was significantly higher in NETs than in HGIN and in ESCC(P=0.000;P=0.000).Significant difference were observed among LGIN and HGIN(P=0.001), LGIN and ESCC(P=0.000). In Ha ethnic, the positive expression rate of LC3 NETs and ESCC was 93.4% and 29.5% respectively. Significant difference was observed among them(P=0.000).(5) In Han ESCC tissues, the expression of LC3 was associated with tumour differentiation(P=0.006), but with no correlation with sex, age, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis and clinical stage both in Han and Ha ethnic.Conclusions:(1) Beclin 1 and LC3 level significantly decreased both in Han and Ha ethnic’s ESCC than that in normal esophageal tissue, which implies that loss of Beclin 1 and LC3 expression may play a role in pathogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.(2) Beclin 1 expression was related to tumour differentiation and clinical stage both in Han and Ha ethnic, and Beclin 1 expression may be an independent prognostic factor in ESCC of Han ethnic.