Reduced EBP50 expression or mis-localization of the EBP50 protein is associated with the malignant progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

PURPOSE : The aim of this study was to examine the significance of EBP50 (ezrin- radixin-moesin binding phosphoprotein 50) ex - pression in esophageal squamous cell carcino - ma (ESCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), western blotting, and immunohisto - chemical staining were performed to detect EBP50 expression in pairs of ESCCs and matched non-tu - mor tissues, and the relationships between EBP50 expression and other clinical factors in ESCC were analyzed. An iRNA targeting EBP50 was transfect - ed into EC9706 cells. MTT and plate colony assays were performed to assess the effects of EBP50 down-regulation on cell growth, and flow cytome - try was used to evaluate the influence of inhibiting EBP50 on cell cycle progression. RESULTS: The real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), west - ern blotting, and immunohistochemical staining results showed that EBP50 expression was signif - icantly lower in ESCCs compared to matched non- tumor tissues. In addition, decreased EBP50 ex - pression correlated with differentiation, T stage, lymph node (LN) metastasis, and poor prognosis in patients with ESCC. The down-regulation of EBP50 may significantly promote the growth and proliferation of EC9706 cells while accelerating cell cycle progression from the G1to S phase. CONCLUSIONS: EBP50 expression was de - creased in ESCC, indicating that EBP50 might play a significant role in the malignant progression of ESCC and be a prognostic marker for patients with ESCC .