Abstract
To identify the genes and molecular functional pathways involved in esophageal cancer, we analyzed the gene expression profile of esophageal tumor tissue from patients having family history of esophageal cancer by cDNA microarray. Three hundred and fifty differentially expressed genes (26 up-regulated and 324 down-regulated) were identified. Genes involved in humoral immune response (PF4), extracellular matrix organization (COL4A4), metabolism of xenobiotics (EPHX1), TGF-beta signaling (SMAD1) and calcium signaling pathways (VDAC1) were down-regulated and genes involved in regulation of actin cytoskeleton (WASL), neuroactive ligand receptor interaction (GRM3), Toll-like receptor (CD14), B-cell receptor (IFITM1) and insulin signaling pathways (FOXO1A) were up-regulated. Validation of differential expression of subset of genes by QRT-PCR and tissue microarray in familial and non-familial cases showed no significant difference in expression of these genes in two groups suggesting familial clustering occurs as result of sharing of common environmental factors. Gene expression profiling of clinical specimens from well characterized populations that have familial clustering of cancer identified molecular mechanism associated with progression of esophageal cancer.