The deregulation of arachidonic acid metabolism‐related genes in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is 1 of the most common cancers worldwide. In our study, cDNA microarray comprising 14,803 genes was employed to identify gene‐specific expression profile in 6 paired samples of ESCC. Nine genes identified were commonly upregulated and 36 downregulated in tumors, as compared to normal esophageal squamous epithelia. Among these genes, we found that 9 of the altered expression genes were related to arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, such as annexin‐I, annexin‐II, S100A8, S100A10, S100P, glutathione peroxidase‐3 , phosphatidylcholine transfer protein, aldo‐keto reductase family 1 and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) . To gain insights into the regulation of the AA metabolism pathway involved in the carcinogenesis of ESCC, we investigated the expression of 8 genes related to the AA metabolism by semiquantitative reverse transcript (RT)‐PCR and/or Western blot and immunohistochemistry. These genes include annexin‐I, annexin‐II, COX‐2, cyclooxygenase‐1 (COX‐1) and cytosolic phospholipase A 2 ( cPLA 2 ), 5‐lipoxygenase (5‐LOX), 5‐lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP) and 12‐lipoxygenase (12‐LOX) (not included in the array data). The expression level of annexin‐I, annexin‐II was downregulated in esophageal cancer, whereas cPLA 2 , FLAP, COX‐2, 5‐LOX and 12‐LOX were upregulated. These data suggested that AA metabolism pathway and its altered expression may contribute to esophageal squamous cell carcinogenesis. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.