Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 7 as an Independent Prognostic Factor in Human Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) is a Mg /Ca -permeable channel with kinase activity and is expressed in many solid tumor types. However, it has not been evaluated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of TRPM7 in ESCC and to determine the role of TRPM7 in proliferation, migration and invasion of ESCC. Immunohistochemistry of TRPM7 for 52 primary tumor samples obtained from patients with ESCC undergoing esophagectomy was performed. Expression of TRPM7 in human ESCC cell lines was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Knockdown experiments were conducted with TRPM7 siRNA, and the effect on cell proliferation, migration and invasion was analyzed. Immunohistochemical staining showed that TRPM7 was found in the cytoplasm of carcinoma cells, and that expression was an independent prognostic factor of good postoperative survival. Suppression of TRPM7 expression with TRPM7-siRNA increased the proliferation, migration and invasion of TE5 ESCC cells. The expression of TRPM7 has an impact on the prognosis of patients with ESCC.