Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expressions of EGFR(endothelial growth factor receptor), and VEGFR1/ Flt_1(vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1/Flt_1) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues with or without radiotherapy, and evaluate the correlation between the expressions and the sensitivity of preoperative radiotherapy. METHODS: We used immunohistochemical method(EnVision) to assess the expressions of EGFR and VEGFR1/Flt_1 in 40 squamous cell carcinomas with radiotherapy, 40 without radiotherapy, and 20 normal tissues at the proximal end of resection. RESULTS: For EGFR, there was no expression in normal esophageal tissues, but 70％ and 77.5％expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with and without radiotherapy, respectively (P<0.05). For VEGFR1/Flt_1, 80％ expression in normal tissue was observed, while 80％ and 62.5％ in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with and without radiotherapy, respectively, were found (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EGFR, VEGFR1/Flt_1 could be used as marker for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma radiotherapy sensitivity preoperatively.

Key words: esophageal carcinoma, radiotherapy, endothelial groth factor receptor, VEGFR1/Flt_1