Frequent expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas

Citation
H. Tanaka et al., Frequent expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas, INT J ONCOL, 14(6), 1999, pp. 1069-1073
Citations number
33
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Onconogenesis & Cancer Research
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY
ISSN journal
1019-6439 → ACNP
Volume
14
Issue
6
Year of publication
1999
Pages
1069 - 1073
Database
ISI
SICI code
1019-6439(199906)14:6<1069:FEOINO>2.0.ZU;2-P
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) plays important biological roles in cardiovascular, nervo us and immune systems, and is synthesized by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). I ntracellular NO is known to cause DNA damage as a mutagen. We examined the expression of cytokine-inducible NOS (iNOS) in human esophageal squamous ce ll carcinomas. Weak iNOS immunoreactivity was seen in the basal and parabas al layers of nonneoplastic esophageal stratified squamous epithelium. iNOS expression was detected in 50 (87.7%) of the 57 esophageal squamous cell ca rcinomas, regardless of the depth of tumor invasion, histological different iation and lymph node status. Early-stage cancers, i.e, mucosal squamous ce ll carcinomas, also showed significant iNOS expression. We speculate that i ncreased iNOS expression is associated with the carcinogenesis of human eso phageal cancer.