Open AccessHMGA2 overexpression plays a critical role in the progression of esophageal squamous carcinoma
Author(s) -
Antônio Palumbo,
Nathalia Meireles Da Costa,
Francesco Esposito,
Marco De Martino,
Daniela D’Angelo,
Vanessa Paiva Leite de Sousa,
Ivanir Martins,
Luiz Eurico Nasciutti,
Alfredo Fusco,
Luís Felipe Ribeiro Pinto
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
oncotarget
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.373
H-Index - 127
ISSN - 1949-2553
DOI - 10.18632/oncotarget.8288
Subject(s) - esophageal cancer , basal cell , medicine , esophageal squamous cell carcinoma , cancer , malignant transformation , humanities , cancer research , art
Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) is the most common esophageal tumor worldwide. However, there is still a lack of deeper knowledge about biological alterations involved in ESCC development. High Mobility Group A (HMGA) protein family has been related with poor outcome and malignant cell transformation in several tumor types. In this way, the aim of this study was to analyze the expression of HMGA1 and HMGA2 expression in ESCC and their role in crucial cellular features. We evaluated HMGA1 and HMGA2 mRNA expression in 52 paired ESCC and normal surrounding tissue samples by qRT-PCR. Here, we show that HMGA2, but not HMGA1, is overexpressed in ESCC samples. This result was further confirmed by the immunohistochemical analysis. Indeed, accordingly to mRNA expression data, HMGA2, but not HMGA1, was overexpressed in approximately 90% of ESCC samples, while it was barely expressed in the respective control. Conversely, HMGA1, but not HMGA2, was overexpressed in esophageal adenocarcinoma samples. Interestingly, HMGA2 abrogation attenuated the malignant phenotype of two ESCC cell lines, suggesting that HMGA2 overexpression is involved in ESCC progression.