Expression of caveolin-1, MMP-2 and β-catenin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and their clinicopathologic significance

In recent years, many studies have reported on role of Caveolin-1 in tumor, but little attention has been paid on its function in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In this study, we attempt to provide molecular biomarkers for early diagnosis of ESCC through examining the expression of caveolin-1 and the relationship between Caveolin-1 and MMP-2, β-catenin in ESCC. ESCC tissues (110 cases) and normal esophageal mucosa tissues (15 cases) were collected from 110 patients with ESCC, who underwent the surgical removal of a tumor at thoracic surgery. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expressions of Caveolin-1, MMP-2 and β-catenin in ESCC tissues and normal esophageal mucosa tissues, respectively, and the correlations between these three proteins several clinical pathological parameters of ESCC were analyzed. High expression of caveolin-1, MMP-2 and β-catenin were observed in ESCC tissues (P < 0.05), and the expression of these proteins were associated with the differentiation, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and liver metastasis of ESCC (P < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between Caveolin-1 expression and MMP-2 expression in ESCC (r = 0.429, P = 0.429), there also was a significant positive correlation between Caveolin-1 expression and β-catenin expression in ESCC (r = 0.545, P = 0.000). In conclusion, Caveolin-1 is over expressed in ESCC tissues and significantly associates with the differentiation, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and liver metastasis of ESCC. There are positive correlations among caveolin-1, MMP-2 and β-catenin. This study suggests that caveolin-1 is closely related to the occurrence, development, invasion and metastasis of ESCC.