Expression of YY1 correlates with progression and metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas.

[esophageal squamous cell carcinoma]

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC ) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide . Yin Yang 1 (YY 1 ) is a ubiquitous and multifunctional zinc-finger transcription factor that plays important biological functions in cell homeostasis and tumorigenesis . The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of YY 1 in different ESCC tissues and the potential relationship with clinicopathological features .One hundred and four ESCC tissues were collected in this study . The protein levels of YY 1 were measured by immunohistochemistry . TE-1 cell invasion in vitro was assessed using the Transwell assay .There were no obvious differences between expression levels in patients over age 64 and those younger than 64 , and no noticeable distinction was observed between males and females . However , the YY 1 protein level was significantly higher in ESCC tissues with lymph node metastasis than those without lymph node metastasis (P =0 .042 ). Furthermore , the expression of the YY 1 protein was stronger in stage III -IV patients than in stage I -II patients (P =0 .002 ), but the protein levels between different histological grades (well , moderate , or poor ) showed no statistical significance . Similarly , there was no difference in YY 1 expression in patients with or without lymphatic invasion . The Transwell assay revealed that the overexpression of YY 1 promoted the invasion ability of TE-1 cells and the inhibition of YY 1 could reverse this promotion .YY 1 expression was associated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis , suggesting that YY 1 can influence human esophageal cancer progression and metastasis .