[Expression and significance of C-kit and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFRbeta) in esophageal carcinoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE:Some researches have showed that STI-571 could inhibit tyrosine kinase of Bcr-Abl, C-kit, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFRbeta), therefore, inhibit cell differentiation and proliferation and accelerate cell apoptosis. This study was to examine the expression of tyrosine kinase receptor C-kit and PDGFRbeta, which is correlated to STI-571, in esophageal carcinoma. METHODS:The expression of C-kit and PDGFRbeta in tumor tissue, para-tumor tissue, and normal tissue of 50 specimens of esophageal carcinoma was examined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS:The strong expression rate of C-kit was low in tumor, para-tumor, and normal tissues (4%, 4%, and 12%, respectively), with no significant difference (P=0.220). The strong expression rate of PDGFRbeta was significantly higher in tumor tissues than in para-tumor and normal tissues (68% vs. 28% and 28%, P=0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the strong expression rate of C-kit and PDGFRbeta had no correlation to sex, age, differentiation degree, infiltrative depth, position, lymph node metastasis, and stage of esophageal carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS:The strong expression rate of PDGFRbeta is significantly higher in tumor tissues than in para-tumor and normal tissues. The strong expression rate of C-kit in normal esophageal tissues is low, and it is lower in para-tumor and tumor tissues.