Expression of FHIT in esophageal epithelium and carcinoma : Reference to drinking, smoking and multicentric carcinogenesis

Background: Both alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking are risk factors for esophageal cancer. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether the fragile histidine triad (FHIT) is their target gene in esophageal carcinogenesis as well as in multicentric carcinogenesis. Patients and Methods: The expression of FHIT was immunohistochemically examined in the squamous cell carcinoma as well as in the normal esophageal epithelium of 55 cases with esophageal cancer. Results: The median drinking indices (DIs) were 546 and 1092 (p<0.01) in cases with positive FHIT expression and those with a diminished expression in the esophageal epithelium, respectively. Furthermore, the incidences of intra-esophageal multiple cancer were 44% and 13%, respectively (p<0.05). Regarding the expression in cancer lesions, the median DIs were 280 and 721 in positive and diminished cases, respectively (p=0.081). Conclusion: A loss ofFHIT expression is associated not only with alcohol-induced esophageal carcinogenesis, but also with multicentric carcinogenesis.