The deregulation of arachidonic acid metabolism‐related genes in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is 1 of the most common cancers worldwide. In our study, cDNA microarray comprising 14,803 genes was employed to identify gene‐specific expression profile in 6 paired samples of ESCC. Nine genes identified were commonly upregulated and 36 downregulated in tumors, as compared to normal esophageal squamous epithelia. Among these genes, we found that 9 of the altered expression genes were related to arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, such as annexin‐I, annexin‐II, S100A8, S100A10, S100P, glutathione peroxidase‐3, phosphatidylcholine transfer protein, aldo‐keto reductase family 1 and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2). To gain insights into the regulation of the AA metabolism pathway involved in the carcinogenesis of ESCC, we investigated the expression of 8 genes related to the AA metabolism by semiquantitative reverse transcript (RT)‐PCR and/or Western blot and immunohistochemistry. These genes include annexin‐I, annexin‐II, COX‐2, cyclooxygenase‐1 (COX‐1) and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), 5‐lipoxygenase (5‐LOX), 5‐lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP) and 12‐lipoxygenase (12‐LOX) (not included in the array data). The expression level of annexin‐I, annexin‐II was downregulated in esophageal cancer, whereas cPLA2, FLAP, COX‐2, 5‐LOX and 12‐LOX were upregulated. These data suggested that AA metabolism pathway and its altered expression may contribute to esophageal squamous cell carcinogenesis. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.