[Genetic events during development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma]

Various molecular genetic abnormalities have been reported in esophageal carcinoma. These include amplification of the chromosome 11q13 region containing cyclin D1, EXP1 and EMS1 genes, and the oncogenes, the epidermal growth factor receptor gene, EGFR/c-ERBB1, and c-myc. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at several chromosome loci and point mutation of the p53 and p16/CDKN2 tumor suppressor genes have also been described. Mutations of p53 gene and LOH at 3p and 9q loci were investigated in esophageal epithelial dysplasia. In contrast, amplification of cyclin D1, EGFR, c-myc and other genes was accumulated in advanced tumors with invasion. Cyclin D1 amplification is found more in metastatic lesions than in primary tumors.