Crosstalk between SHH and stemness state signaling pathways in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The expression of GLI1 as a downstream gene of sonic hedgehog (Hh) pathway, studied in a variety of cancers including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the interaction of Hh with other developmental pathways needs to be elucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation of GLI1 expression with transcription factors (TFs) of stem cell signaling pathways, and their association with clinico-pathological data of ESCC. Using real-time PCR, we assessed the expression of GLI1 mRNA in 49 ESCC patients, and analyzed the correlation between GLI1 and selected TFs. The results showed overexpression of GLI1 in ESCC tissues in significant correlation with lymph node metastasis. The GLI1 up-regulation was also correlated to the SOX2 and SIZN1 (Smad-interacting zinc finger protein) expression. These correlations may confirmed the role of GLI1 in crosstalk among different cell signaling pathways in ESCC. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the correlation of GLI1 expression with stemness marker and BMP signaling in ESCC.