Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common type of esophageal cancer and is prevalent worldwide. Understanding the mechanisms underlying its formation and the search for more effective therapeutic strategies are critical due to the occurrence of chemotherapeutic drug resistance. The aim of the present study was to determine the functional relevance and therapeutic potential of carbohydrate sulfotransferase 15 (CHST15) in ESCC. CHST15 levels were measured in different ESCC cell lines and evaluated in ESCC tissues using tissue chip immunohistochemistry. Cell growth and apoptosis assays, 3‑(4,5‑dimethylthiazol‑2‑yl)‑2,5‑diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays, and clonogenic assays were conducted using TE‑1 cells and lenti‑shCHST15 virus constructs were used to investigate the function of CHST15 in cell proliferation and apoptosis. mRNA microarray analysis was performed to determine the underlying mechanism of CHST15 regulation in TE‑1 cell proliferation and apoptosis. The results showed that knockdown of CHST15 inhibited TE‑1 cell growth and proliferation, but induced cell apoptosis. CHST15 was more frequently detected in ESCC tissue compared with that in normal esophageal tissue. Microarray data analysis indicated that the inhibition of cell proliferation and activation of cell apoptosis in CHST15‑knockdown cells may be caused by altered CHST15/ILKAP/CCND1 and CHST15/RABL6/PMAIP1 signaling axes, respectively.
Keywords: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; esophageal cancer; carbohydrate sulfotransferase 15; CHST15; cell proliferation; cell apoptosis; shRNA.