Role of SIZN۱ in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: Bone morphogenetic proteins are a family of cytokines and growth factors that are involved in tumorigenesis. ZCCHC۱۲ (SIZN۱), as a transcriptional coactivator of bone morphogenetic protein signaling, is identified as a positive regulator of central nervous system development during embryogenesis. It positively regulates the CREB and AP۱ transcription factors that cooperate with the bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathway. In the present study, SIZN۱ mRNA expression was assessed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients.Methods: The levels of SIZN۱ mRNA expression in tumor tissues from ۵۰ patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were compared with their corresponding normal margins by using real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results: We observed that ۱۰ out of ۵۰ (۲۰%) cases overexpressed SIZN۱, whereas ۴۰ out of ۵۰ (۸۰%) cases showed either normal or under expression of SIZN۱. There was a significant correlation between the levels of SIZN۱ mRNA expression and tumor depth of invasion (P=۰.۰۴۰). Furthermore, a significant correlation between lymph node metastasis and SIZN۱ mRNA expression was observed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients (P=۰.۰۳۶).Conclusion: This study is the first report that has assessed SIZN۱ expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients. SIZN۱ can be a potential therapeutic target for primary esophageal squamous cell carcinoma because of its role in the early stages of tumor progression and metastasis.