High expression of neutrophil cytosolic factor 2 (NCF2) is associated with aggressive features and poor prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background In the development of several human cancers, it has been established that neutrophil cytosolic factor 2 (NCF2) plays a major part. Therefore, possible functions of NCF2 in ESCC are investigated in this paper. Methods The mRNA/protein expression of NCF-2 in ESCC cell lines and tissues were found based on quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), western blotting, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). A large cohort consisting of 194 postoperative ESCC samples was used for IHC. These data were analyzed based on Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and Cox regression modelling. For the purpose of confirming its role in ESCC cells, we used short hairpin RNA (ShRNA) interfering method to suppress endogenous NCF2 expression. Results NCF2 was significantly up-regulated for in ESCC tissues and cell lines in at mRNA and protein levels; and NCF-2 expression was absent for all normal esophageal epithelium detected by IHC. Furthermore, the knockdown of NCF-2 compromised the proliferation and invasion of ESCC cells in vitro. Conclusion Positive NCF2 expression in ESCC may facilitate an aggressive phenotype. This may be an independent biomarker in ESCC.