Abstract
The aim of this study was to clarify the clinicopathological outcome and prognostic significance of metastasis-associated gene 2 (MTA2) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Immunohistochemical staining for MTA2 was performed on surgical specimens obtained from 162 patients with ESCC. Relationships between MTA2 expression and clinicopathological factors, including prognosis, were analyzed. Significant correlations were noted among MTA2 overexpression and TNM clinical classification staging, depth of invasion, presence of regional lymph node metastasis, presence of distant metastasis, lymphatic invasion, blood-vessel invasion and the 5-year survival rates. The expression of MTA2 protein was correlated with tumour progression. Patients with MTA2 overexpression tended to have poor prognosis compared to patients with MTA2 underexpression.