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

BACKGROUND OBJECTIVE: Some researches haveshowed that STI-571 could inhibit tyrosine kinase of Bcr-Abl, C-kit, andplatelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFRβ) , therefore, inhibit celldifferentiation and proliferation and accelerate cell apoptosis. This study wasto examine the expression of tyrosine kinase receptor C-kit and PDGFRβ,which is correlated to STI-571, in esophageal carcinoma. METHODS: Theexpression of C-kit and PDGFRβin tumor tissue, para-tumor tissue, andnormal tissue of 50 specimens of esophageal carcinoma was examined byimmunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The strong expression rate of C-kit waslow in tumor, para-tumor, and normal tissues (4% , 4% , and 12% ,respectively) , with no significant difference (P =0.220). The strongexpression rate of PDGFRβwas significantly higher in tumor tissues than inpara-tumor and normal tissues (68% vs. 28% and 28%, P=0.001). Logisticregression analysis revealed that the strong expression rate of C-kit andPDGFRβhad no correlation to sex, age, differentiation degree, infiltrativedepth, position, lymph node metastasis, and stage of esophagealcarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The strong expression rate of PDGFRβissignificantly higher in tumor tissues than in para-tumor and normal tissues.The strong expression rate of C-kit in normal esophageal tissues is low, andit is lower in para-tumor and tumor tissues.