Reihaneh Alsadat Mahmoudian - Division of Human Genetics, Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Mohammad Reza Abbaszadegan - Division of Human Genetics, Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran- Medical Genetics Research Center, Medical School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Mohammad Mahdi Forghanifard - Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran.
Meysam Moghbeli - Division of Human Genetics, Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Faezeh Moghbeli - Department Biology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
Jamshidkhan Chamani - Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran.
Mehran Gholamin - Immunology Research Center, BuAli Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Background: Human Cripto-۱, a member of the EGF-CFC family, is involved in embryonic development, embryonic stem cell maintenance, and tumor progression. It also participates in multiple cell signaling pathways including Wnt, Notch, and TGF-β. Remarkably, it is expressed in cancer stem cell (CSC) compartments, boosting tumor cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. Although Cripto-۱ is overexpressed in a variety of human malignant tumors, its expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the possible oncogenic role of Cripto-۱ in ESCC progression and elucidate its association with clinicopathological parameters in patients. Methods: In this study, Cripto-۱ expression in ۵۰ ESCC tissue samples was analyzed and compared to corresponding margin-normal esophageal tissues using quantitative real-time PCR. Results: Cripto-۱ was overexpressed in nearly ۴۰% of ESCC samples compared with normal tissue samples. Significant correlations were observed between Cripto-۱ expression and tumor differentiation grade, progression stage, and location (p < ۰.۰۵). Conclusions: Our results indicate that overexpression of Cripto-۱ is involved in the development of ESCC. Further assessment will be necessary to determine the role of Cripto-۱ cross talk in ESCC tumorigenesis.  

Cancer stem cell, Cripto-۱, ESCC, Expressional analysis, Real-time PCR