Abstract:

Objective   To study  expressions of MEK1/2, ERK1/2, JAK1/2, STAT3 and c-myc genes in esophageal cancer in the Kazak population in Xinjiang, China and to explore the regulation signaling pathways for c-myc. Methods   RT-PCR was used to detect c-myc expression in esophageal cancer tissues and  distal normal tissues in 52 cases. Expressions of MEK1/2, ERK1/2, JAK1/2 and STAT3 were also examined for those specimens with differentially expressed c-myc gene. Results    Expression of c-myc at the mRNA level in cancer tissues was higher than normal ones (P＜0.05). A positive correlation in expression was observed for c-myc with ERK2 and STAT3 (P＜0.05), but not with JAK1/2 and ERK1. A positive correlation was also observed between ERK2 and MEK1 as well as between MEK2 and STAT3 (P＜0.05). In addition, a positive correlation was detected for ERK1 with both MEK1 and MEK2 (P＜0.05). Conclusion     The MEK/ERK2/STAT3 signaling pathway may play important roles leading to  c-myc overexpression during  esophageal cancer development in the Kazak population, while the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway may  not be a major pathway  for c-myc activation.

Key words: Esophageal Cancer; c-myc;  MEK1/2； ERK1/2； STAT3