Gene expression profiling in human esophageal cancers using cDNA microarray

Human esophageal cancer cell lines and human esophageal cancer tissues were profiled on cDNA microarrays. In esophageal cancer cell lines, KYAE and OE -33 (adenocarcinomas) were distinguished from KYSE series (squamous cell ca rcinomas). Although SK-GT-4 and TE7 were derived from adenocarcinomas, they had a comparatively similar expression profile to the KYSE series. A set o f genes whose expression commonly either increased or decreased in cancer c ell lines was identified. Genes that were characteristically expressed in K YAE and OE-33 were also identified. The gene expression profiles of cancer tissues (CTs) were remarkably different from those of the cancer cell lines (CCLs). Notable differences between CCLs and CTs were observed in matrix m etalloproteinases, plasminogen activator, collagens, paxillin, and thrombos pondin 2, etc., whose expression was not increased in CCLs but increased in CTs. Twenty-three genes were extracted to categorize patients according to their prognoses, and clustering analyses, using these genes, were performe d successfully. (C) 2001 Academic Press.