Figure 1

PRAF3 expression is down-regulated in ESCC specimens as compared to matched normal tissues. (A) Representative images of immunohistochemical staining for PRAF3 in normal esophageal epithelium and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Expression level of PRAF3 protein was moderate in normal esophageal epithelium, whereas it was weak in ESCC. Bars = 100 μm. (B, C) The expression of PRAF3 mRNA and protein in the ESCC specimens and the matched normal tissues was detected by qRT-PCR and western blot and normalized to that of GAPDH and β-actin, respectively. Results showed that the expression level of PRAF3 mRNA (B) and protein (C) was significantly down-regulated in tumor tissue compared with the matched normal tissue. Data represent mean ± SEM from 57 paired specimens; *, P < 0.05, **, P < 0.01 by paired t test.