PTCH gene expression as a potential marker for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND The PTCH expression level in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS To test whether PTCH can serve as a candidate marker for esophageal SCC, a quantitative reverse transcription (RT) -PCR for the PTCH gene was performed and the possible relationship between PTCH gene expression levels and clinicopathological findings in esophageal SCC was evaluated. RESULTS A low PTCH expression score was observed in 18 out of 29 (62%) esophageal SCCs and it was significantly correlated with a poor prognosis in esophageal SCC patients (p = 0.0073). CONCLUSION These results suggest that PTCH might serve as a new parameter for the prediction of prognosis in esophageal SCC.