# Alterations in the Expression of Proprotein Convertase Genes in Human Esophagus Squamous Cell Carcinomas

## TL;DR

This study finds that certain proprotein convertase genes are more active in esophageal cancer tissues, suggesting they may help diagnose or treat the disease.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific proprotein convertase genes enriched in esophageal tumors and reveals common expression patterns across cancers.

## Key findings

- PCSK6, PCSK9, MBTPS1, and FURIN mRNAs are significantly enriched in tumor tissues.
- Cluster analysis reveals limited scenarios of PC expression changes in tumors versus normal tissues.
- These expression patterns are relevant to malignant transformations in lung and esophageal cells.

## Abstract

Proprotein convertases (PCs) constitute an enzyme family that includes nine
highly specific human subtilisin-like serine proteases. It is known that the
PCs mRNA levels vary in tumors, and that these proteases are involved in
carcinogenesis. Thus, PCs may be considered as potential markers for typing and
predicting the course of the disease, as well as potential targets for therapy.
We used quantitative real-time PCR to evaluate the expression levels of PC
genes in the paired samples of tumor and adjacent normal tissues derived from
19 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. We observed a significant
enrichment of PCSK6, PCSK9,
MBTPS1, and FURIN mRNAs in the tumor tissue,
which may be indication of the involvement of these PCs in the development and
progression of esophageal cancers. Additionally, cluster analysis of PC
expression alteration patterns in tumor compared to normal adjacent tissues
(esophageal and previously analyzed lung tissue samples) revealed a limited set
of scenarios for the changes in PC expression. These scenarios are implemented
during malignant transformation of lung and esophagus cells, as well as,
probably, the cells of other organs. These findings indicate that PC genes may
be important markers of human cancers.