To explore the expression and clinical significance of cytokeratin 14(CK14) and E-cadherin in patients with the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC).

One hundred and sixty cases of esophageal paraffin blocks with 130 cases of human ESCC tissues (observation group) and 30 cases of normal esophageal tissues (control group) were collected.For observation group, according to histopathological differentiation degree, TNM clinical stage, tumor infiltration depth, 104 cases were divided to high differentiation group, while the rest 26 cases as poorly differentiated group; 51 cases were sort to Ⅰ, Ⅱ stage and 79 cases as Ⅲ, Ⅳ stage; fiber membrane infiltration were discovered in 57 cases, while 73 cases with no fiber membrane infiltration.The CK14 and E-cadherin expression were detected by the immunohistochemical staining method.The expression characteristics and the mutual relations of CK14 and E-cadherin in esophageal squamous carcinoma tissues were analyzed and compared.

Expression of CK14: (1)the expression intensity of CK14 in observation group was 165.47±19.15, while it was 141.14±14.59 in control group, there was a significant difference between the two groups (t=3.29, P<0.05). (2)the expression intensities of CK14 was 144.99±10.16 in high differentiating group and 169.25±20.11 in poorly differentiating group, there was a significant difference between the two groups(t=1.72, P<0.05). (3)the expression intensities of CK14 in Ⅰ, Ⅱ phase and Ⅲ, Ⅳ phase were 140.91±15.43, 169.36±21.44, there was a significant difference between the two groups(t=3.06, P<0.05). Expression of E-cadherin: (1)expression intensity of E-cadherin in observation group was 156.25±15.21, while it was 169.23±16.08 in control group, there was a significant difference between the two groups(t=1.71, P<0.05). (2)differentiation intensity of E-cadherin was 160.48±7.72 in high differentiating group and 130.01±9.06 in poorly differentiating group, there was a significant difference between the two groups(t=3.43, P<0.05). (3)the expression intensities of E-cadherin in Ⅰ, Ⅱ phase and Ⅲ, Ⅳ phase were 158.86±6.88, 140.02±9.30, there was a significant difference between the two groups(t=1.78, P<0.05). (4)expression intensity of E-cadherin was associated with ESCC tumor infiltration depth, there were a significant differences between the two groups (χ²=6.722, P<0.05). In observation group, the positive expression rate of CK14(54.6%) was higher than that of the E-cadherin(45.4%), there was no statistically significant difference between the two group (χ²=1.76, P>1.76).

The higher expression of CK14 and the lower expression of E-cadherin are related to the occurrence and progress of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas.CK14 and E-cadherin can be independent diagnosis index of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas.CK14 and E-cadherin may become the new therapeutic targets for esophageal squamous carcinoma.