1893

ECM1

extracellular matrix protein 1;ECM1;extracellular matrix protein 1

secretory component p85

1q21

protein-coding

The extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) is a secreted protein that has been implicated with cell proliferation, angiogenesis and differentiation. In the present study, we used immunohistochemical staining to examine the expression of ECM1 in a panel of human tumors and found that it was closely correlated with some types of tumors including: invasive breast ductal carcinoma (83%), esophageal squamous carcinoma (73%), gastric cancer (88%) and colorectal cancer (78%). Significantly, ECM1expression was correlated with the metastatic properties of the tumors. Primary breast cancers that had formed metastases were 76% positive while those that had not metastasized were only 33% positive. ECM1 expression was also correlated with PCNA a marker for proliferation, but not with CD34, a marker for endothelial cells. These results indicate that ECM1 tends to be preferentially expressed by metastatic epithelial tumors.

BACKGROUND: tumor-induced lymphangiogenesis is a crucial step in malignant invasion and metastasis. Extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) was recently reported to play a role in lymphangiogenesis. In the present work, we aimed to evaluate the role of ECM1 in gastric cancer and examined whether aberrant expression of ECM1 increased the tumorigenic and metastatic potential of human gastric cancer. METHODS: The mRNA and protein expression of ECM1 in gastric cancer specimen and the noncancerous counterparts from 77 patients were detected by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry staining. Lymphatic microvessel density (LMVD) in the corresponding serial sections was assessed by counting the lymphatic microvessels labelled by D2-40. The correlations between ECM1 expression, LMVD, and the clinicopathological parameters were examined. RESULTS: ECM1 protein expression was detected in 70.1% (54/77) of gastric cancer specimen, significantly higher than that in the corresponding counterparts (P<0.01). ECM1 mRNA in tumor specimen was also dramatically amplified. Elevated LMVD and ECM1 were positively correlated (P<0.01). In addition, ECM1 protein expression was also closely associated with depth of tumor invasion and TNM stage (P<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: ECM1 expression is aberrant elevated in tumor specimen and is closely related to the tumorigenic and metastatic potential of human gastric cancer. Thus, carrying out the protein examination may be beneficial to predict carcinogenesis and metastatic spread of human gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of extracellular matrix protein-1 (ECM1) in laryngeal carcinoma and their relationships with the growth, metastasis and angiogenesis of tumor. METHOD: The immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expressions of ECM1 and VIII factor in 33 cases of laryngeal tumors. RT-PCR technology was used to test the existence of ECM1 mRNA in both fresh laryngeal tissue and its surrounding tissue (total 5 cases). RESULT: ECM1 is expressed in both benign and malignant laryngeal tissues, chiefly in the cellular plasma. But the expression of ECM1 (P<0.01) is significant different between benign and malignant laryngeal tumors. Their expressions are stronger in malignant tissues than in benign ones. In malignant laryngeal tissue, the expression of ECM1 is associated significantly with microvessel density (MVD) (24. 50 +/- 5.96) (Spearman's rho is 0. 505, P <0.05). ECM1 mRNA is found in both laryngeal carcinoma tissue and its surrounding tissue and it seemed no difference. CONCLUSION: ECM1 played an important role in the growth, metastasis and angiogenesis of laryngeal carcinoma. The further investigation of ECM1 will benefit the treatment of laryngeal carcinoma and the judgement of its prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) in benign laryngeal lesions, precancerous lesions and malignant laryngeal lesions and analyze the clinical significance of ECM1 changes in the pathogenesis and metastasis of laryngeal carcinoma. METHODS: A total of 46 patients with laryngeal lesions were recruited with a median age of 48.2 years (range: 33-67 years). Among these patients, 29 had laryngeal carcinoma (12 with metastasis and 17 without metastasis), 8 had benign laryngeal lesions and 9 had precancerous laryngeal lesions (laryngeal leukoplakia). Immunofluorescence staining was employed to detect the protein expression of ECM1 in benign laryngeal lesions, laryngeal leukoplakia and malignant laryngeal lesions; RT-PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of ECM1 in laryngeal carcinoma and benign laryngeal lesions. RESULTS: ECM1 expression was detected in 25% (2/8) of patients with benign laryngeal lesions, 78% (7/9) of patients with precancerous laryngeal lesions, and 100% (29/29) of patients with laryngeal carcinoma. Among the laryngeal carcinoma patients, high ECM1 expression (+++) was found in 64.7% (11/17) of patients without lymph node metastasis and 91.7% (11/12) of patients with lymph node metastasis. Increased ECM1 expression was found in laryngeal carcinoma when compared with other laryngeal lesions and the ECM1 expression in patients with metastasis was significantly higher than that patients without metastasis (P<0.01). RT-PCR showed that the mRNA expression of ECM-1 in laryngeal carcinoma was markedly higher than that in benign laryngeal lesions. CONCLUSION: ECM1 expression is in an increasing order in benign laryngeal lesions, precancerous laryngeal lesions and malignant laryngeal lesions. Meanwhile, the metastatic laryngeal carcinoma has higher ECM1 expression than laryngeal carcinoma without metastasis. Our findings suggest that ECM1 plays promotive roles in the occurrence, development and metastasis of laryngeal carcinoma.