Identification of novel cancer-related gene, DTL in digestive tract cancer

尽管先前的研究已经确定了食管鳞状细胞癌（ESCC）中的各种扩增及其靶点，但人类基因组计划的最新进展促使我们确定了其他靶点。在这项研究中，我们测试了位于先前报道的1q32-q41扩增子上的DTL是否在ESCC中起促癌基因的作用。DTL蛋白的过表达在原发性escc中经常被检测到，并且与pN类型和复发状态显著相关。DTL过表达肿瘤患者的总生存率低于非表达肿瘤患者，DTL在多因素分析中是独立的预后因素。DTL的下调抑制了ESCC细胞的生长，DTL的异位过表达促进了ESCC细胞的生长。这些发现表明DTL在肿瘤细胞生长中起着重要作用，并突出了其作为ESCC的预后因子和潜在治疗靶点的有效性。

Although previous studies have identified various amplifications and their targets in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), recent progress in the human genome project prompted us to identify additional targets. In this study, we tested whether DTL, located at previously reported 1q32-q41 amplicon, acts as a cancer-promoting gene in ESCC. Overexpression of DTL protein was frequently detected in primary ESCCs, and significantly correlated with pN category, and status of recurrence. Patients with DTL-overexpressing tumors had a worse overall survival than those with non-expressing tumors, and DTL was independent prognosticator in the multivariate analysis. Knockdown of DTL inhibited and ectopic overexpression of DTL promoted the growth of ESCC cells. These findings suggest that DTL plays an important role in tumor cell growth, and highlight its usefulness as a prognosticator and potential therapeutic target in ESCC.