Expression and clinical significance of Tiam1 gene in esophageal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between Tiam1 gene expression and the invasion and metastasis of esophageal cancer. METHODS By RT-PCR technique, Tiam1 mRNA expression levels in 49 cases of esophageal cancer tissues and normal esophageal tissues were detected. RESULTS Average Tiam1 mRNA expression level in 49 cases of esophageal cancer tissues (1.83 ± 0.73) was significantly higher than that in normal esophageal tissues (0.87 ± 0.45) (P < 0.01); High Tiam1 mRNA expression rate in esophageal cancer tissues was positively correlated with clinical stage and T stage; Tiam1 mRNA expression rate was 59.38% (19/32) in patients with lymph node metastasis, and in patients without lymph node metastasis it was 23.53% (4/17), with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Tiam1 gene expression in esophageal cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in normal esophageal tissues, and its overexpression was positively correlated with invasion and metastasis of esophageal cancer.