Ezrin promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression via the Hippo signaling pathway

The aim of this study was to analyze the role of Ezrin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and investigate potential therapeutic targets for ESCC by interfering with Ezrin expression. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that Ezrin expression differed significantly among patients with different clinical stage ESCC. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between Ezrin and yes-associated protein/connective tissue growth factor (YAP(1)/CTGF) levels in esophageal cancer. Sixty paraffin-embedded ESCC tissue samples were examined and Ezrin and YAP(1)/CTGF levels were determined using immunohistochemistry. The positive expression rates of Ezrin and YAP(1)/CTGF were significantly lower in adjacent tissues than in ESCC tissues. Furthermore, knockdown of Ezrin expression inhibited colony formation and reduced cell migration and invasion. Compared with control ESCC cells, protein expression levels of YAP(1) and CTGF were significantly downregulated in cells with Ezrin knocked down. We conclude that Ezrin may be involved in ESCC progression through the Hippo signaling pathway.