Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression and its clinical significance of Syk (spleen tyrosine kinase) gene in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC). METHODS: The expressions of Syk gene in human esophageal carcinoma lesions(n=30), peri_cancerous tissue(n=27) and relative normal tunica mucosa of esophageal tissue(n=30) were detected by Reverse transcription_polymerase chain reaction(RT_PCR) technique. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect Syk protein expression in the above cases and analyzed their relationships with clinicopathologic data of the patients. RESULTS: The differences of Syk mRNA levels among the human esophageal carcinoma lesions, peri_cancerous tissue and relative normal tunica mucosa esophageal tissue were not significant(P>0.05). But the level of Syk mRNA was obviously higher the carcinoma lesions than the normal esophageal tissue. Of the 39 esophageal carcinoma lesions, 34 were Syk protein positive(34/39, 87.2％), expression of Syk protein were detected in 18 peri_cancerous tissue(18/27, 66.7％) and in 26 of the 38 relative normal tunica mucosa esophageal tissue(26/38，68.4％). A significant difference was noted among three groups(P<0.05). Furthermore, Syk protein expression was not associated with the patients′ sex, age, tumor size and stages(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Expressions of Syk mRNA and Syk protein in ESCC were significantly higher and unrelated to clinicopathologic characteristics.

Key words: spleen tyrosine kiase, human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC), clinicopathologic characteristics