High Expression Of Neutrophil Cytosolic Factor 2 (Ncf2) Is Associated With Aggressive Features And Poor Prognosis Of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: In the development of several human cancers, it has been established that neutrophil cytosolic factor 2 (NCF2) plays a major part. Therefore, possible functions of NCF2 in ESCC are investigated in this paper. Methods: The mRNA/protein expression of NCF-2 in ESCC cell lines and tissues were found based on quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), western blotting, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). A large cohort consisting of 194 postoperative ESCC samples was used for IHC. These data were analyzed based on Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and Cox regression modelling. For the purpose of confirming its role in ESCC cells, we used short hairpin RNA (ShRNA) interfering method to suppress endogenous NCF2 expression. Results: NCF2was significantly up-regulated for in ESCC tissues and cell lines in at mRNA and protein levels; and NCF-2 expression was absent for all normal esophageal epithelium detected by IHC. Furthermore, the knockdown of NCF-2 compromised the proliferation and invasion of ESCC cells in vitro. Conclusion: Positive NCF2 expression in ESCC may facilitate an aggressive phenotype. This may be an independent biomarker in ESCC.