xCT, component of cysteine/glutamate transporter, as an independent prognostic factor in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Background xCT is a component of the cysteine/glutamate transporter, which plays a key role in glutathione synthesis. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the role of xCT in the regulation of genes involved in cell cycle progression and the clinicopathological significance of its expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods xCT expression in human ESCC cell lines was analyzed by Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining. Knockdown experiments were conducted with xCT siRNA, and the effect on cell cycle was analyzed. The cells’ gene expression profiles were analyzed by microarray analysis. An immunohistochemical analysis of 70 primary tumor samples obtained from ESCC patients that had undergone esophagectomy was performed. Results xCT was highly expressed in TE13 and KYSE170 cells. In these cells, the knockdown of xCT using siRNA inhibited G 1 -S phase progression. Microarray analysis identified 1652 genes whose expression levels in TE13 cells were altered by the knockdown of xCT. Pathway analysis showed that the top-ranked canonical pathway was the G 1 /S checkpoint regulation pathway, which involves TP53INP1, CDKN1A, CyclinD1/cdk4, and E2F5. Immunohistochemical staining showed that xCT is mainly found in the nuclei of carcinoma cells, and that its expression is an independent prognostic factor. Conclusions These observations suggest that the expression of xCT in ESCC cells might affect the G 1 /S checkpoint and impact on the prognosis of ESCC patients. As a result, we have a deeper understanding of the role played by xCT as a mediator and/or biomarker in ESCC.